10th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 46 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090060490 | Imaging apparatus - An imaging apparatus | 2009-03-05 |
20090060491 | Diaphragm-shutter mechanism, controlling method thereof, and camera using the same - A photosensitive electronic diaphragm-shutter mechanism includes a diaphragm-shutter unit and a control unit. The diaphragm-shutter unit includes a first photosensitive electronic member and a second photosensitive electronic member, which are overlapped to be positioned. The control unit outputs signals to the first photosensitive electronic member and the second photosensitive electronic member respectively for controlling the transparent status or non-transparent status thereof. The time difference of the first photosensitive electronic member and the second photosensitive electronic member when transferring status decides a shutter time. The present invention also provides a controlling method for photosensitive electronic diaphragm-shutter mechanism. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060492 | PORTABLE DEVICE WITH HEAT RADIATING STRUCTURE - In a digital camera implementing the present invention, a metal tripod seat is arranged on a cabinet, a circuit part that generates heat is accommodated in the cabinet, the circuit part is connected with the tripod seat in a heat conducting manner, and a cover strip made of resin extending from the cabinet covers the tripod seat. The tripod seat is arranged at one end of the cabinet, and the outer surface of the cabinet has a projection formed at a site facing the circuit part, and forms a heat radiating space allowing flow of heat to the other end of the cabinet with the circuit part. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060493 | METHOD OF DEVELOPING A SUBSTRATE AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAME - In an apparatus for performing a substrate developing process, a first washing tank and a second washing tank are disposed on both sides of a substrate support section for supporting the substrate opposite to each other to wash a developing nozzle. The developing nozzle moves in a horizontal direction from the first washing tank toward the second washing tank and supplies a developing solution onto the substrate in the meantime. After supplying the developing solution, the developing nozzle is received in the second washing tank, and the developing solution adhered to the developing nozzle is removed by a washing solution in the second washing tank. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060494 | Light emitter controlling - Embodiments related to light emitter control are described and depicted. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060495 | INITIATING DIAGNOSTICS FROM ANY USER COMMUNICATION TERMINAL - A method for initiating diagnostic operations for a communication network, and devices, a network, and computer-readable storage medium storing control logic, that operate in accordance with the method. A test set device is communicatively coupled to a test head. The test set device provides access information to the test head, the access information comprising a diagnostic code indicating a diagnostic operation to be performed. The test head is communicatively coupled to a network. The test head provides the diagnostic code to the network device and sends a response from the network device to the test set device, the response indicating a result of performing the diagnostic operation. In this manner, a field technician can initiate diagnostics without the intervention of another technician, thereby reducing manpower required to troubleshoot a problem and improve troubleshooting turnaround. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060496 | Method and system for enabling diagnosing of faults in a passive optical network - In a passive optical network (PON), multiple optical network terminals (ONTS) transmit data to an optical line terminal (OLT) using a common optical wavelength and fiber optical media. Various components of the PON, including the OLT and ONT(s), can malfunction. Centralized techniques for maintaining or diagnosing fault conditions may be ineffective in large networks or in relatively small networks because of vast amounts of information and limited storage capacity for the information. Thus, fault conditions may occur and not be diagnosed due to lost or overwritten information. Therefore, a distributed approach based on information related to ranging of ONTs within the PON is employed in an example embodiment of the invention. This distributed approach can improve monitoring and diagnosis of fault conditions that may lead to instability of the PON. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060497 | Feedback Controlled Locking of Optical Channel Signals in Optical Receivers in Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) Communication Systems - Techniques, apparatus and systems for optical communications that use feedback controlled locking of optical channel signals in optical receivers in WDM communication systems, including ultra dense WDM systems. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060498 | Method and Apparatus for Determining Fiber Characteristics in an Optical Communication Network - An apparatus and method for deriving fiber characteristics between two nodes in an optical communication network are disclosed. A roundtrip time for a signal to travel between two nodes is measured by sending the signal via the optical supervisory channel from a first node to a second node, which is configured for loopback operation. Fiber characteristics can be calculated based on the measured roundtrip time. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060499 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING QUALITY OF OPTICAL SIGNAL - An apparatus and method for monitoring quality of an optical signal in an optical network based on wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission technology are provided, which are capable of monitoring the quality of an optical signal with higher accuracy. The apparatus includes: a signal extractor extracting an optical signal having a specific wavelength from input optical signals; an optical-electrical converter converting the extracted optical signal having the specific wavelength into an electrical signal; an overhead parser extracting a part of an overhead of the electrical signal to parse whether or not the quality of the signal is degraded; and a controller monitoring the quality of the optical signal according to the parsing result of the extracted overhead and restoring the optical signal whose quality is lower than a predetermined reference value. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060500 | DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM AND STORAGE DEVICE - A storage device includes a memory that stores data, a memory controller that controls reading and writing of data from and to the memory, and a host controller. The host controller transmits and receives the data to and from a host via a transmission line. The host controller transmits and receives the data, via an optical transmission line, to and from (i) the memory controller and (ii) a memory controller of at least one other storage device. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060501 | All Optical Batcher Banyan Switch, Batcher Switch, Banyan Switch and Contention Manager - An all-optical contention manager includes at least two inputs and at least two outputs. The outputs are configured to output signals to a Banyan switch. The contention manager detects and resolves routing contentions between incoming optical signals prior to outputting the signals to the Banyan switch. The signals have tags that include routing information. A photonic comparator in the contention manager compares the tags of incoming optical signals in order to detect contention. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060502 | SERVICE HANDOVER METHOD, OPTICAL NETWORK SYSTEM, HANDOVER EQUIPMENT AND PE EQUIPMENT IN AN OVPN - An optical network system disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention contains a PE and a handover equipment located between the PE and a CE. The PE is adapted to provide optical network access for the CE. The handover equipment is adapted to disconnect a CE that finishes working at a handover time, and/or connect a PE with a CE that will work in a next time segment. The present invention also discloses a service handover method of optical networks. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a handover equipment and a PE in an optical network. The present invention can reduce the ports occupied by the PE. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060503 | STORAGE OVER OPTICAL/WIRELESS INTEGRATED BROADBAND ACCESS NETWORK (SOBA) ARCHITECTURE - An optical line terminal (OLT), network and method include input and output switching modules configured to switch between input and output channels. A transmission module is configured for physical layer transmission using at least one of a plurality of transmission technologies to provide multiple uses of an existing transmission line. A dynamic resource module is configured to allocate network resources dynamically to one or more storage area networks (SAN) based on storage resource requests. A service differentiation module is configured to determine and implement different service levels for SAN users. An existing network infrastructure is enabled to provide custom SAN services without a dedicated line and without interfering with existing services. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060504 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTION SWITCHING OF OPTICAL CHANNEL - An apparatus and method for protection switching of an optical channel at each node in an optical network based on wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission technology are provided. The method can be applied to any node having at least two optical fiber inputs and outputs. The apparatus includes: a splitter receiving an electrical signal and splitting the received electrical signal into a plurality of electrical signals which are substantially identical to the received electrical signal; an output switching unit selecting output paths of the electrical signals split by the splitter according to an optical channel path control command of the optical network; and a plurality of optical transponders being assigned to the respective output paths of the electrical signals, converting the electrical signal input by the selection of the output switching unit to an optical signal, and transmitting the converted optical signal to another node of the optical network. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060505 | Distributing Wavelength Compatible with Signaling Protocols - An apparatus, comprising a first node configured to communicate with a second node to generate a wavelength assignment, wherein the first node is configured to send a wavelength availability information to the second node. Included is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method, comprising receiving a wavelength availability information, and updating the wavelength availability information using a local wavelength availability information. Also included is a method, comprising acquiring a local wavelength assignment information, calculating a local wavelength availability information, and transmitting the local wavelength availability information to a subsequent network element on a lightpath. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060506 | OPTICAL PACKET SWITCHING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR - An optical switch section that switches the path of an optical packet transmitted thereto and outputs the optical packet, and a control section that generates multiple switch control signals in accordance with the destination of an optical packet transmitted thereto, transmits the multiple control signals to the optical switch section through multiple signal transmission lines and controls the ON/OFF states of multiple optical switches are included, and delay measuring means for measuring a difference in delay time among the multiple signal transmission lines is provided. In this case, the control section adjusts the transmission times of the multiple switch control signals such that the difference in delay time measured by the delay measuring means can be cancelled and that the multiple switch control signals transmitted through the multiple signal transmission lines can arrive at the multiple optical switches simultaneously and transmits the multiple switch control signals. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060507 | Backward Compatible PON Coexistence - A network comprising a first optical line terminal (OLT), and a second OLT in communication with the first OLT, at least one first-type optical network unit (ONU), and at least one second-type ONU. Included is an OLT configured to implement a method comprising forwarding a first downstream data from a first-type OLT to at least one first-type ONU, and transmitting a second downstream data to at least one second-type ONU. Also included is a method comprising adding at least one second-type ONU to a passive optical network (PON) comprising a first-type OLT and at least one first-type ONU without removing the first-type OLT from the PON. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060508 | Polarization multiplexing and transmitting apparatus - A polarization multiplexing and transmitting apparatus generates polarization multiplexed light by multiplexing modulated signal components that having varying intensities and are in polarization states orthogonal to each other. The polarization multiplexing and transmitting apparatus includes a converting unit that converts light generated by a light source into signal components having a varying intensity synchronized with a clock signal input thereto and a varying intensity inversely synchronized with the clock signal, respectively; a modulating unit that modulates the signal components, respectively; and a polarization adjusting unit that orthogonalizes polarization states of the signal components. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060509 | CUSTOMER PREMISES OPTICAL NETWORK UNIT AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A customer premises optical network unit (ONU) comprises: an electrical/optical transform unit | 2009-03-05 |
20090060510 | Optical Network Terminal Apparatus - A distributed optical network terminal apparatus includes an n-plexer selecting a plurality of downstream channels of a received wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal. A wavelength translator block translates each selected channel of the WDM optical signal to an associated downstream translated optical signal having a wavelength distinct from that of the associated channel. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060511 | COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVER - A coherent optical receiver includes a 90-degree optical hybrid circuit to which a received signal light is input, I-channel and Q-channel photo detectors to which the outputs of the hybrid circuit are input, a clock extraction circuit which reproduces a clock whose speed is the same as a demodulated signal obtained by demodulating the received signal light and which is synchronized therewith, I-channel and Q-channel sampling circuits which sample the signal outputs from the I-channel and Q-channel photo detectors by use of the clock, and a digital signal processing section which digitally processes the sampled signals, converts them to a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal. The digital signal processing section feeds a phase offset signal detected there back to the clock extraction circuit to thereby control the phase of the clock, and compensates dispersion of light within a fiber and phase fluctuation during free-space propagation. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060512 | Distributed Wavelength Conversion Control for Signaling Protocols - A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining a wavelength availability information for a path, determining whether to implement a wavelength assignment based on the wavelength availability information, updating the wavelength availability information when the wavelength assignment is to be implemented, and forwarding the wavelength availability information. Also included is a method comprising obtaining a wavelength availability information, comparing a number of wavelengths in the wavelength availability information to a threshold, determining whether to implement wavelength conversion along a path when the number of available wavelengths is less than or about equal to the threshold, and resetting the wavelength availability information when wavelength conversion is to be implemented. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060513 | REMOTE OPTICAL CONTROL OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS - An optical controlling circuit and an electrical controlled circuit such as a motor control circuit are interconnected by an electro-optic interface. A passive optical switch located in the optical circuit at a position remote from the electrical circuit is physically actuated to generate a change in optical transmission state of the optical circuit. At the electro-optic interface, the change in optical transmission state of the optical circuit is detected and triggers a change in the electrical transmission state of the electric circuit. Embodied as STOP and START pushbuttons, a pair of such passive optical switches at a position remote from the electric circuit reduces the risk that actuating motor control circuits and the like will cause arcing and, in hazardous environments, explosion. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060514 | INFRA-RED REPEATER IN POWER CENTERS - A combined electrical power conditioner and IR controller that provides a single point for communications with a Remote and connects with the various components of a video or audio system which is configured to respond to IR signals. The apparatus receives and routes IR signals either serially or in parallel to the system components through IR capable cables. The apparatus may be equipped with an RF to IR converter for an RF capable remote controller. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060515 | Remote controlling system, electronic device, and controlling method - A remote controlling system is disclosed. An infrared remote controller generates a first serial signal containing a command corresponding to a user's operation and outputs the first serial signal by infrared communication. A radio remote controller generates a code signal containing a key number corresponding to a user's operation and outputs the code signal by radio communication. An electronic device includes a light receiving section, a radio receiving section, a selecting section, and a controlling section. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060516 | Signal forwarding system and signal receiver thereof - A signal forwarding system and a signal receiver thereof are disclosed. The signal forwarding algorithm is provided so that the photo signal provided by the remote control device can be used to indirectly control the remote application apparatus. The present invention uses the photo transistor to be a photo-detecting element to detect the photo signal provided by the remote control device. The problem of the user being not easy to aim at the signal receiver of the application apparatus is overcome, and the problem of the photo-detecting element being operated by an error signal due to the signal disturbance is also overcome. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060517 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR POSITIONING FIRST AND SECOND DEVICES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER - The invention relates to a method of locating a first device for wirelessly communicating with a second device relative to each other. The invention further relates to a system comprising a first device and a second device adapted for wirelessly communicating with each other. The object of the present invention is notify a user of an appropriate position of a first device relative to a second device with a view to ensuring proper wireless communication between them. The problem is solved in that one or more light sources are used to notify the user of appropriate locations of the two devices relative to each other according to a predifined correspondence scheme between appropriate beam patterns and distances between the devices The invention has the advantage of assisting a user in attaining a correct or appropriate distance between a first device (e.g. a programming device) and a second device (e.g. a device to be programmed). The invention may e.g. be used for programming or uploading data from a programming or server device to a portable audio device (e.g. a hearing aid) or to an entertainment device (e.g. a music player or a head set). | 2009-03-05 |
20090060518 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR PROVIDING A HERMETIC SEALING SYSTEM FOR AN OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER MODULE - In an optical transceiver module, the bottom surface of the lid is temporarily attached to the top surface of the submount assembly in a pre-alignment position prior to performing the solder flowing process in order to prevent the lid from shifting position during the solder flowing process. The solder flowing process is then performed to melt the solder. When the solder melts, the surface tension of the melted solder pulls the lid into its ultimate, or permanent, aligned position. The solder is then cooled, causing it to harden, thereby securing the lid to the submount assembly in its ultimate, permanently aligned position. The hardened solder between the top surface of the submount assembly and the bottom surface of the lid forms a hermetic seal that encloses components on the transmit side of the transceiver module in a hermetically-sealed environment. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060519 | Internal EMI Washer for Optical Transceiver with Parallel Optic Fiber Ribbon - An optical transceiver including an optical fiber ribbon, a housing permanently attached to the optical fiber ribbon, and an electrical connector extending from the housing. An electro/optical converter is disposed within the housing including an array of VCSELs and an array of photodiodes rigidly coupled to a ferrule supporting respective fibers of the fiber ribbon. A member is disposed on an outer surface of the housing adjacent the aperture that resists sharp bending of the optical fiber ribbon where the ribbon exits the housing through the aperture and blocks leakage of electromagnetic radiation from the housing. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060520 | REDUNDANCY AND INTEROPERABILITY IN MULTI-CHANNEL OPTOELECTRONIC DEVICES - A multi-channel optoelectronic device is configured to establish a redundant status link with a remote device. The optoelectronic device can transmit N transmit optical signals to the remote device over a plurality of transmit channels and receive N receive optical signals from the remote device over a plurality of receive channels. The optoelectronic device includes one or more spare transmit and receive channels. When used with a remote device having spare transmit and receive channels, each device can establish a status link with the other and use the status link to switch out transmit and/or receive channels to identify and permanently switch out the worst transmit and/or receive channels. Alternately, the device can interoperate with a non-status-link enabled remote device by determining that the remote device is not status-link enabled, transitioning to a low transmit power mode, and transmitting and receiving over a plurality of default transmit and receive channels. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060521 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR DATA TRANSFER IN AN OPTICAL NETWORK - A method for data transfer in an optical network, including: amplitude modulating, by a central office, an optical carrier by a downstream data with a first rate to generate a downstream optical signal carrying the downstream data; sending the downstream optical signal to a user terminal; obtaining, by the user terminal, the downstream data from the downstream optical signal; amplitude modulating, by the user terminal, the downstream optical signal by an upstream data with a second rate to generate an upstream optical signal, wherein the ratio of the first rate to the second rate is greater than 1; sending the upstream optical signal to the central office; and receiving, by the central office, the upstream optical signal, and obtaining, by the central office, the upstream data from the upstream optical signal. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a system and device for data transfer in the optical network. With the invention, the complexity of the system may be effectively reduced, and the cost of the device may be lowered. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060522 | PARALLEL HIGH-SPEED COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH REDUNDANT CHANNEL ARCHITECTURES - An optical transmission system includes more optical channels than electrical channels. If an optical channel is not functioning, the signals may be diverted to another optical channel since there are more optical channels than electrical channels. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to switches for switching the electrical channels to particular optical channels on either or both of the transmission and reception side. The switches include switching elements and selector elements for routing the electrical signals between the electrical channels and optical channels. In one embodiment, the multiple optical channels are incorporated into a single cable. The single cable may have the electrical interface for a number of electrical channels exposed for mechanical and electrical coupling with an external port, whereas the optical channels may be hidden within the cable coating. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060523 | In-service optical dispersion determining system and method - A system and method for in-service optical dispersion determination are provided. Optical dispersion is determined by splitting a first optical signal into two components, introducing a time delay between the two components such that corresponding pulses of the two components partially overlap, combining the two components to generate a combined optical signal comprising a first component and a second component, determining power of the combined optical signal while applying a plurality of dispersion compensation values, in order to determine a dispersion compensation value that results in a minimum detected power of the combined optical signal. Polarization Mode Dispersion is determined by adjusting the time delay that is introduced until the power of the combined optical signal is substantially equal for all of the plurality of dispersion compensation values. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060524 | High frequency signal optical transmission system and high frequency signal optical transmission method - A filter conducts the round trip by using the return optical signal that has been shifted in frequency, and measures the transmission optical signal and the return signal in phase by the principle of the Michelson interferometer at the same time, independently, and splits the two optical signals. A polarization state in which transmission and reception optical signals within an optical phase shifter which enters one route of the two optical signals are made orthogonal to each other is provided, to thereby distinguish the transmission and reception signals of the round trip from each other. The light is allowed to pass the shifter in incoming and returning to remove the polarization rotation of the shifter by using the reversibility of the light. Then, the phases of the transmission signal and the return signal are measured and synchronized with each other to conduct the transmission phase compensation. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060525 | ALL-OPTICAL POLARIZATION-INDEPENDENT CLOCK RECOVERY - Simultaneous recovery of several different clock signals is based on coupling an optical input signal into an optical resonator matched with at least four spectral peaks of the input signal. The input signal having arbitrary polarization is divided by a polarizing splitter into a first signal having horizontal polarization and a second signal having vertical polarization. The polarization of the first signal is rotated 90 degrees such that the polarization of the first signal is parallel to the vertical polarization second signal. Both vertically polarized signals are passed through the same optical resonator in opposite directions, and they are combined after passing through the resonator in order to form an output signal. The spectral separation between the first peak and the second peak is equal to a first clock frequency, and the spectral separation between the third peak and the fourth peak is equal to a second clock frequency. The resonator stores optical energy and provides an output also when the input signal is zero. Thus, the output signal includes a first recovered clock signal which exhibits continuous beat at the first clock frequency, and a second recovered clock signal which exhibits continuous beat at the first clock frequency. Only vertically polarized light is passed through the resonator. Thus, variations in the polarization of the input signal do not require continuous re-adjustment of the resonator. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060526 | OPTICAL FM SOURCE BASED ON INTRA-CAVITY PHASE AND AMPLITUDE MODULATION IN LASERS - An optical transmitter is discloses having a gain section and a phase section. The phase section is modulated to generate a frequency modulated signal encoding data. The frequency modulated signal is transmitted through an optical spectrum reshaper operable to convert it into a frequency and amplitude modulated signal. In some embodiments, a driving circuit is coupled to the phase and gain sections is configured to simultaneously modulate both the phase and gain sections such that the first signal is both frequency and amplitude modulated. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060527 | SILICON INTEGRATED PHOTONIC OPTICAL PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIER OSCILLATOR AND WAVELENGTH CONVERTER - The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for adjusting intensity, wavelength and higher and lower frequency components of an optical signal. Photonic apparatus receives a first and a second optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion the first optical signal or the second optical signal and adjusts intensity or wavelength of the first optical signal or the second optical signal, in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. In some embodiments photonic apparatus receives an optical signal comprising a lower frequency component received an amount of time prior to a higher frequency component of the optical signal. A waveguide provides an anomalous group velocity dispersion for the optical signal and adjusts the amount of time between the higher frequency component and the lower frequency component in response to the anomalous group velocity dispersion. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060528 | OPTICAL TRANSMITTER - A technology to automatically control the biasing of an optical duobinary transmitter using a single-drive LN-MZ modulator is provided. A low-frequency signal is amplitude modulated onto a voltage signal input into a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator | 2009-03-05 |
20090060529 | Optical bench fiber optic transmitter - The subassembly includes a laser for emitting signals towards fibers to be monitored, a passive alignment carrier, a photodetector for monitoring reflected laser signals from the fibers and for monitoring laser output power, and an optical fiber. The laser is disposed within the passive alignment carrier. The optical fiber is embedded in the passive alignment carrier, and has an angled fiber facet. The laser emits signals toward and through the angled fiber facet, whereby a portion of the laser signal illuminates the photodetector, and another portion illuminates the fibers that are being monitored and reflects back to the photodetector such that faults on the fibers can be detected. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060530 | OPTICAL NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICES AND METHODS - A system comprises an optical network terminal (ONT) that provides an interface to a passive optical network (PON). The ONT is coupled to a subscriber gateway device via at least one cable. The ONT may be located outside a subscriber premises while the subscriber gateway device may be located within the subscriber premises. The ONT converts optical signals received from PON to electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the subscriber gateway device without performing any MAC layer functions. The subscriber gateway device includes an optical media access control (MAC) unit that converts the electrical signals into MAC layer signals and a gateway unit that distributes the MAC layer signals to one or more subscriber devices. In this manner the MAC and gateway layer functions are relocated from the ONT to the subscriber gateway device. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060531 | OPTICAL NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICES AND METHODS - A system comprises an optical network terminal (ONT) that terminates an optical fiber link of an optical network to provide an optical network interface. The ONT may include an optical module that receives optical signals via the optical fiber link and converts the optical signals to electrical signals and an optical media access control (MAC) unit that converts at least some of the electrical signals to data units. The optical MAC unit may be selectively configurable to support a plurality of optical network protocols. For example, the optical MAC unit is selectively configurable to support two or more of BPON protocol, a GPON protocol, a GEPON protocol and an active Ethernet protocol. In one instance, the optical MAC unit is selectively configurable to support at least one active optical network protocol and at least one passive optical network protocol. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060532 | PAPER CARRYING DEVICE, DOCUMENT SCANNING APPARATUS, AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A paper carrying device includes a carrying path, a light sensor, a contact sensor, and a judgment section. Both of the light sensor and the contact sensor output a presence-signal indicating that paper exists at a predetermined position in the carrying path or an absence-signal indicating that paper does not exist at the predetermined position. The judgment section judges that a signal output from the light sensor is an error when the light sensor outputs the presence-signal while the contact sensor outputs the absence-signal. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060533 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a developing device for developing an electrostatic image with a developer; a developer amount detecting device for detecting an amount of a developer in the developing device; a developer consumption amount calculating device for calculating a consumption amount of the developer on the basis of image information of the electrostatic image; a developer supplying device for supplying the developer to the developing device; a control device for controlling a developer supply operation to the developing device by the developer supplying device, wherein the control device controls the developer supply device to supply a predetermined amount of the developer every time an integrated value of the consumption amount of the developer exceeds a supply threshold, and corrects the supply threshold on the basis of information relating to an amount of the developer in the developing device detected by the developer amount detecting device. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060534 | DEVELOPING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device has stirring members for conveying and stirring a developer-tank-contained developer and a developer holder, and has a developer replenishing tank for replenishing a replenishment developer to a developer tank; a toner concentration detecting sensor; a discharging mechanism for discharging an excessive amount of the developer-tank-contained developer outside the developer tank when the amount of the developer-tank-contained developer inside the developer tank exceeds a predetermined amount; and a control unit for replenishing the developer-tank-contained developer when it is detected that the toner concentration inside the developer tank is lower than a first reference value and for forcibly consuming the toner inside the developer tank and replenishing the replenishment developer when it is detected that the toner concentration inside the developer tank is higher than a second reference value that is higher than the first reference value. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060535 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member; a discharging unit arranged to face the photosensitive member; a high-voltage power supply unit which supplies power to the discharging unit; a discharge detection unit which detects abnormal discharge in the discharging unit; an output controller which controls an output of the high-voltage power supply unit according to control information; and a cleaning detection unit which compares current control information for the high-voltage power supply unit supplying power to the discharging unit in which abnormal discharge is detected with previous control information for the high-voltage power supply unit when previous abnormal discharge is detected in the discharging unit, and which detects whether the discharging unit has been cleaned based on the comparison result. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060536 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In the image forming apparatus, a control unit, upon detecting that an amount of waste toner reaches a predetermined amount by a waste-toner-amount detecting unit, calculates an amount of used toner after detection through a pixel calculating unit and a printed-sheet calculating unit to accumulate the amount of used toner in a storing unit, and outputs a waste-toner-full warning when it is determined that an accumulated amount of used toner reaches a residual filling amount before a full state. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060537 | Image forming apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image using a consumable supply; a cover attached to the image forming unit; an energy accumulation unit for accumulating energy when the cover is closed; an energy initializing unit for initializing a level of the energy accumulated in the energy accumulation unit when the cover is opened; an energy detection unit for detecting whether the level of the energy accumulated in the energy accumulation unit is initialized; and a state correction unit for correcting a state of the image forming unit according to a detection result of the energy detection unit. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060538 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus which forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, serving as an image carrier, develops the image using toners of a plurality of colors, and transfers a toner image onto a printing medium in accordance with an electrophotographic process. A toner consumption amount detection unit detects the toner consumption amount of each of the toners of the plurality of colors, a decision unit decides a color to be calibrated, based on the detected toner consumption amount of each color, a patch sensor detects the density of a patch of the decided color by generating the patch at a predetermined position on the photosensitive drum serving as an image carrier, and an adjustment unit adjusts the printing density of the color decided by the decision unit, based on the detected patch density. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060539 | FIXING APPARATUS - A fixing unit adapted to fix a developing agent onto an image forming medium by way of a heat roller containing a heater and a press roller conducts a warming up operation for the optimum warming up time as determined based on the temperature and the humidity of ambient air detected by a temperature/humidity sensor. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060540 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - An intermediate transfer tandem type image forming device which has multiple first stage transfer units set parallel and a single power unit which simultaneously applies bias to the multiple first stage transfer units. When executing successive printing or both-sides printing and there is a need to change the bias value of the first stage transfer bias due to a mix of multiple types of recording media, the device is able to hold down electricity consumption, sustain image quality, and form images productively. When executing successive printing or both-sides printing, the application timing of the changed transfer bias due to the detection of a different recording medium to that of the initial medium is placed after the previous first stage transfer of a final color toner image is completed. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060541 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a fixing/pressurizing roller pair that nips a transfer sheet and transports to fix toner on the transfer sheet; a pressure control unit that controls a pressure demonstrated by the fixing/pressurizing roller pair in consideration of the type of the transfer sheet; a transfer sheet compatibility determining unit that determines whether or not the pressure set by the pressure control unit is compatible with the transfer sheet to be inserted between the fixing/pressurizing roller pair; and a control unit that performs a process to cause to notify a user of incompatibility and/or a process to forbid printing if the transfer sheet compatibility determining unit determines that the pressure set by the pressure control unit is not compatible with the transfer sheet. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060542 | Image Forming Apparatus and an Image Forming Method - An image forming apparatus includes: an exposure head including an imaging optical system arranged in a first direction and a light emitting element that emits light to be imaged by the imaging optical system; a latent image bearing member that moves in a second direction and carries a latent image formed by the exposure head; a developing unit that develops the latent image formed by the exposure head; a detector that detects the image developed by the developing unit; and a controller that controls image formation such that a width L | 2009-03-05 |
20090060543 | Image Forming Apparatus, An Image Forming Method And An Image Detecting Method - An image forming apparatus, includes: an exposure head that includes an imaging optical system which is arranged in a first direction and a light emitting element which emits light to be focused by the imaging optical system; a latent image carrier that moves in a second direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first direction and carries a latent image which is formed by the exposure head; a developing unit that develops the latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the exposure head; and a detector that detects an image which is developed by the developing unit and is formed using one imaging optical system. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060544 | Image Forming Apparatus, an Image Forming Method and an Image Detecting Method - An image forming apparatus, includes: an exposure head that includes a first imaging optical system, a second imaging optical system, a first light emitting element which emits light to be focused by the first imaging optical system, and a second light emitting element which emits light to be focused by the second imaging optical system, the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system being arranged in a first direction; a latent image carrier that moves in a second direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first direction and carries a latent image which is formed by the exposure head; a developing unit that develops the latent image formed by the exposure head; and a detector that detects an image developed by the developing unit, wherein a first latent image that is focused by the first imaging optical system and a second latent image that is focused by the second imaging optical system are connected. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060545 | EXPOSING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An exposing device which radiates light on a photoconductor drum which rotates, thereby executing exposure, includes a light-emitting element unit including light-emitting element having an emission area which emits light that is generated, the emission area having a rectangular shape with a long side along a direction perpendicular to a rotational direction of the photoconductor drum, and a short side along the rotational direction, a lens unit which focuses the light, which is emitted from the emission area, on a peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum, thereby executing exposure, and forming on the peripheral surface a beam spot, and a driving circuit which causes the light-emitting element to emit light, thereby making a width of the shape of the beam spot in a direction along the rotational direction close to a width of the beam spot in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060546 | Liquid Measuring Device, Liquid Developer Storing Apparatus, and Image Forming Apparatus - A liquid measuring device includes a floating member that is moved in accordance with a liquid surface, a first magnetic field generator that is disposed in the floating member and positions its north (N) pole to face a first direction, a second magnetic field generator that is disposed in the floating member to be spaced apart from the first magnetic field generator and positions its south (S) pole to face the first direction, and a plurality of proportional output-type hole elements that detect magnetic fields generated by the first magnetic field generator and the second magnetic field generator in positions facing the first direction. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060547 | Transfer Belt Charge Buildup Compensation - The present application is directed to methods and devices for compensating for transfer belt charge buildup in an image forming device. In one embodiment, the method includes determining the charge buildup on the transfer belt due to an applied transfer voltage. A first image of a multi-image print job is printed using a first transfer voltage. The transfer voltage may then be adjusted for printing one or more subsequent images of the multi-image print job. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060548 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is configured to form a developer image on a recording sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a pressure roller and a heat roller, an ejection roller configured to cause the recording sheet from the fixing unit to be ejected from the image forming apparatus, and a power transmission member configured to transmit power from the heat roller to cause the ejection roller to rotate. The pressure roller is configured to rotate in response to power and configured to cause the heat roller to be rotated. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060549 | FUSING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A fusing system includes: a fusing unit which comprises a fusing belt which rotates around outer surfaces of at least two rollers which are distanced from each other, and a pressing roller which presses a printing medium together with the fusing belts and fuses an image which is transferred to the printing medium; a heat source which receives power to generate heat, and is mounted inside at least one of the two rollers; a driving source which drives at least one of the two rollers; a sensing unit which senses a surface temperature of the fusing belt; and a control unit which controls the heat source and the driving source so that the fusing belt can be driven when the temperature of the fusing unit increases if a printing order is applied. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060550 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, FIXING DEVICE, AND HEAT-GENERATING ROTARY MEMBER USING INDUCTION HEATING - An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device for fixing a toner image on a sheet by applying heat, and including an exciting coil and a heat-generating rotary member. The exciting coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating rotary member performs self-temperature control using a repulsive magnetic flux, and includes a degaussing member, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt alloy layer, and a magnetic flux adjuster. The degaussing member generates the repulsive magnetic flux using the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the exciting coil. The magnetic shunt alloy layer is disposed between the exciting coil and the degaussing member, and receives heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The magnetic flux adjuster adjusts an amount of the repulsive magnetic flux generated by the degaussing member. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060551 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus is provided with: a fusing unit which fuses an image transferred to a printing medium; a power supply which supplies power to the fusing unit; a switching unit which switches the power supplied to the fusing unit; and a controller which controls the switching unit to prevent the power from being supplied to the fusing unit in at least a section during initialization of the image forming apparatus. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060552 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A warm-up operation control section performs warm-up operation of a fixing-side rotation unit and a pressure-side rotation unit from start-up until the temperature of the fixing-side rotation unit exceeds a first specified value based on an output of a heating-side thermistor in forming a monochrome image. In forming a color image, the warm-up operation control section performs warm-up operation of the fixing-side rotation unit and the pressure-side rotation unit from start-up until the temperature of the pressure-side rotation unit exceeds a second specified value based on an output of a pressure-side thermistor. Time required for the temperature of the fixing-side rotation unit to exceed the first specified value is set shorter than time required for temperature of the pressure-side rotation unit to exceed the second specified value. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060553 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A warm-up operation control section performs warm-up operation of a fixing-side rotation unit and a pressure-side rotation unit for a first period of time from start-up in the case of a monochrome mode set by a setting section. In the case of a color mode, the warm-up operation control section performs warm-up operation of the fixing-side rotation unit and the pressure-side rotation unit for a second period of time which is longer than the first period of time from start-up. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060554 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE USED THEREIN - An image forming apparatus includes multiple imaging units and a controller. The multiple imaging units each include a photoconductor, a charging device, a developing device, a retractable cleaner, and a cleaner retraction mechanism. The charging device charges the photoconductor for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image. The retractable cleaner cleans the charging device when in contact with the charging device. The cleaner retraction mechanism is configured to bring the retractable cleaner into contact with the charging device. The charging device and the photoconductor are installed and replaced in conjunction with each other. The controller calculates a photoconductor usage of each of the multiple imaging units, and individually controls the cleaner retraction mechanism in each of the multiple imaging units according to the calculated photoconductor usage. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060555 | MULTI-FUNCTION APPARATUS - A multi-function apparatus having a plurality of functions relating to an image processing and configured to selectively realize one of the plurality of functions, including: a plurality of operation keys which are operated by a user so as to control the multi-function apparatus; a display device configured to display an operation view for assisting the user in operating the plurality of operation keys; and a display control section configured to control the display device to display the operation view in which a plurality of images respectively representing the plurality of operation keys are displayed, such that an image of each of at least one active key each as an active one of the plurality of operation keys is displayed in the view in a first manner, while an image of each of at least one inactive key each as an inactive one of the plurality of operation keys is displayed in the view in a second manner which is different from the first manner. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060556 | Dual-Range Power Supply For An Image Forming Device - The embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and devices for a control system to regulate the output voltage of a high voltage power supply (HVPS) in an image forming device. In one embodiment, the HVPS comprises at least two voltage sources connected in series. A print engine controller is configured to disable at least one of the voltage sources when a voltage draw of a load exceeds a maximum differential voltage of the at least two voltage sources. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060557 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus provided with an image forming section and a fixing section, comprising: a memory section which stores relationships between a plurality of instruction forms of image formation and a plurality of power supply methods including a power supply by both an AC power source and a capacitor to the fixing section and a power supply only by the AC power source to the fixing section; and a controller, when receiving an instruction of image formation, that refers to the memory section on a basis of an instruction form of the received instruction of image formation and supplies power by both the AC power source and capacitor to the fixing section, or supplies power only by the AC power source to the fixing section. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060558 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing the number of times a second member is separated from a first member upon entry into power-save mode, thereby minimizing failures of a separation unit. A pressure-roller separating mechanism is provided so as to abut and separate a pressure roller and a fixing roller against/from each other. The image forming apparatus is controlled to change to a power-save mode in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is reduced. The pressure-roller separating mechanism is controlled to separate the pressure roller and the fixing roller from each other in the power-save mode based on a measurement result measured by a timer, and the power-save mode is maintained after the pressure roller and the fixing roller are separated from each other. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060559 | Liquid ejecting apparatus - A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a record head having nozzles that discharge liquid; a transporting path along which a medium is transported; a transporting mechanism that transports the medium along the transporting path; a sensor including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element and disposed at a first position on the transporting path, the first position being located upstream relative to the record head in a transporting direction of the medium, the sensor outputting a signal in accordance with presence or absence of the medium at the first position; and a control unit that controls supply of power to the sensor and detects the presence or absence of the medium through the sensor. The control unit stops the supply of power to the sensor when the control unit detects a downstream end of the medium in the transporting direction, and resumes the supply of power to the sensor when the control unit detects an upstream end of the medium in the transporting direction. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060560 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer carrier arranged to face the image carrier to form a developing nip portion, which carries developer containing toner for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier, a developing unit having a developer regulating member that regulates a thickness of a layer of the carried developer, an air sending duct having an air sending path provided on the developing unit, which sends air to the developer carrier and a suction duct having a suction path provided on the developing unit, which sucks air from the developer carrier. The developer regulating member is arranged on an air sending duct side, and the air sending and suction paths are arranged to be connected by forming a space surrounded by a surface of the developer carrier, the developer regulating member and a wall forming the suction path. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060561 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided with a feed interval control section that sets feed intervals of the recording materials, for a defined period from immediately after completion of the warm-up operation for a fixing-side rotor and the pressure-side rotor determined by a warm-up completion determination section, to be longer than feed intervals of the recording materials posterior to the defined period in a high-humidity and low-temperature state. Thereby, the image forming apparatus prevents elongation of a warm-up time while achieving both reduction of the back curl and maintenance of fixability in the high-humidity and low-temperature state. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060562 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; and an exposure member having a light emitting element, the exposure member exposing the photosensitive member at an exposure position opposed to an opposed position on the photosensitive member to form the electrostatic latent image, the exposure member being movable between the exposure position and a retreated position retreating from the exposure position, wherein the exposure member includes a dust-proof wall protruding more than a light-emitting surface of the exposure member and a positioning member positioning the exposure member with respect to the photosensitive member at the exposure position, and wherein the dust-proof wall and the positioning member are integrally formed. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060563 | Cleaning device and image forming apparatus - A cleaning device includes a cleaning roll and an intervening member. The cleaning roll contacts the surface of a charge roll that charges a photoconductor, rotates, and cleans the surface of the charge roll. The intervening member is intervened between the charge roll and the cleaning roll and causes the charge roll and the cleaning roll to separate from each other. The intervening member may be spacers that are intervened at both end portions of the charge roll and the cleaning roll and form a gap between the charge roll and the cleaning roll. The intervening member may also be a lubricant. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060564 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include a casing including an image forming section, an ejecting section above the image forming section and an image scanning section above the ejecting section, formed with an ejecting port communicating with the ejecting section; and an operating section. A side surface of the casing closer to the ejecting port includes a generally vertical surface and an upper surface of the casing includes a generally horizontal surface. The casing is provided with an inclined surface inclined along a direction intersecting with the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface for connecting the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface with each other. The ejecting port is formed on the inclined surface. The operating section is inclined along a direction approaching a horizontal surface than the inclined surface under the ejecting port on the inclined surface. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060565 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include a casing including an image forming section, an ejecting section provided above the image forming section and an image scanning section provided above the ejecting section, formed with an ejecting port communicating with the ejecting section; and an operating section. A side surface of the casing closer to the ejecting port includes a generally vertical surface and an upper surface of the casing includes a generally horizontal surface. The casing is provided with an inclined surface inclined along a direction intersecting with the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface for connecting the generally vertical surface and the generally horizontal surface with each other, and the ejecting port is formed on the inclined surface, and the operating section is arranged under the ejecting port on the inclined surface. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060566 | Drum removal apparatus and methods - A device for detaching a drum from a printer cartridge, the drum comprising a drum flange that attaches the drum to the printer cartridge, the device comprising: a pressure transmitting device; and a rod operatively connected to the pressure transmitting device, wherein the pressure transmitting device and the rod are configured to apply pressure to the drum flange and cause the drum to be detached from the printer cartridge. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060567 | IMAGING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Downsizing can be achieved even with simple structure. An imaging cartridge includes an image carrier | 2009-03-05 |
20090060568 | Image Forming Apparatus And Process Cartridge - An image forming apparatus includes: a main body; a process cartridge detachably attachable to the main body, the process cartridge including an image carrier configured to carry a developer image thereon and a cartridge frame; a feeding path configured to feed a recording sheet to a transfer position where the developer image carried on the image carrier is transferred to the recording sheet; and a returning path configured to return the recording sheet that has passed the transfer position to the feeding path. The cartridge frame defines at least a part of the feeding path and at least a part of the returning path. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060569 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus including a plurality of image forming cartridges removably mounted to an apparatus body one above the other is disclosed. Structural members each partition off a space between nearby image forming cartridges mounted to the apparatus body. The apparatus is capable of obviating banding ascribable to the vibration of the cartridges. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060570 | IMAGING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An imaging cartridge has a process unit and a toner box unit formed by integrating a new toner box and a waste toner box. The toner box unit is attachable to and detachable from the process unit. Shutters which open and close a connecting section between the new toner box and a developing device included in the process unit can be opened by manual operation when the toner box unit is attached to the process unit. Shutters and which open and close a connecting section between a cleaning device included in the process unit and the waste toner box are opened when the imaging cartridge is in the process of being moved to a prescribed position in an apparatus body. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060571 | FUSING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes a frame, a fusing unit including a unit casing which is detachably attachable to the frame, a heater supported by the unit casing to heat a print medium, a pressure unit supported by the unit casing to press the print medium to the heater and a pressure adjuster provided in the unit casing to relatively move at least one of the pressure unit and the heater with respect to each other to adjust a pressure between the pressure unit and the heater; and a driver which is disposed in the frame to supply a driving force to the pressure adjuster if the fusing unit is attached to the frame. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060572 | FIXING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing device includes a pair of first frames that support an axis of each of a fixing roller and a pressing roller and a pair of second frames arranged in parallel to an axial direction of the fixing roller to connect the first frames to each other. The second frames include cover portions that cover an upper peripheral surface and a lower peripheral surface of the rollers. A coupling member couples the cover portions to each other and has a bridge structure between the cover portions. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060573 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus may include a sheet conveyance path having a generally U-shaped portion. The U-shaped portion may be formed by inner and outer guides, and the guides may be arranged such that they may be sequentially removed from the apparatus in a common direction, and through a common opening in the apparatus. For example, to remove a fixing portion from within the apparatus, the outer guide may first be removed, followed by the removal of the inner guide, and then followed by the removal of the fixing portion. The guides may overlap one another when viewed from the common direction. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060574 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus comprising an image holding member that is rotationally driven, the image holding member comprising, on a substrate, a subbing layer and a photosensitive layer, a volume resistance value of the subbing layer decreasing in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, from one end portion of a light source side of the image holding member towards another end portion of the image holding member, a charging unit, a latent image formation unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a charge removal unit comprising a light source that, after transfer of the toner image, irradiates the surface of the image holding member from one side thereof, in a rotation axis direction of the image holding member, with charge removing light, to remove the charge from the surface of the image holding member. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060575 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is described. The image forming apparatus may include a first casing and a second casing above the first casing. The second casing is provided with an upper surface including a generally horizontal surface, a lower surface extending beyond the upper surface in a generally horizontal direction and a side surface connecting an end edge of the upper surface and an end edge of the lower surface with each other over the whole area. The first casing is provided with an upper surface coming into contact with the lower surface of the second casing over the whole area and a side surface including a generally vertical surface. An inclined surface connecting the generally vertical surface of the first casing and the generally horizontal surface of the second casing with each other, is provided continuously along the first casing and the second casing. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060576 | BELT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An endless belt member is suspended in a tensioned manner by a plurality of roller members including a drive roller and a drive motor drives the drive roller member so as to move the belt member in a predetermined direction of travel. A detecting unit detects an amount of displacement of the belt member in a widthwise direction of the belt member, and a correction unit that corrects displacement of the belt member in the widthwise direction. The correction unit corrects the displacement of the belt member in a widthwise direction based on data sampled by the detecting unit every time a drive signal is input to the drive motor a prescribed number of times. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060577 | PLATE, AND PATTERN FORMING DEVICE AND PATTERN FORMING METHOD USING THE SAME PLATE - A pattern forming device has an original plate for pattern formation having pattern-shaped concave portions in a high-resistance layer. When phosphor particles collected in the concave portions are transferred to a glass plate, an electric field is formed between separate electrodes and a transfer roller, and a high-frequency voltage is applied to a common electrode to apply a voltage between the separate electrodes, hence to generate ultrasonic waves from a piezoelectric layer. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060578 | Rotor Driving Force Transmission Device and Image Forming Apparatus having the Device - A driving force transmission device superior in reliability with suppressed rotation fluctuation. The driving force transmission device has gearing reception portions, three arm portions and a press member. The gearing reception portions are formed in the inner circumference of a rotor. The arm portions extend from a shaft radially. The arm portions can be elastically deformed. The arm portions have engagement tooth portions for transmitting a driving force of the shaft to the rotor. The press member presses the rotor to bend the arm portions in the direction where the rotor is pressed. In that state, the gearing reception portions gear with the engagement tooth portions. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060579 | Exposure Head And An Image Forming Apparatus Using The Exposure Head - An exposure head, includes: a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system which are arranged in a first direction; a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system; and a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system, wherein an inter-optical-system distance in the first direction between the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system satisfies the following expression: | 2009-03-05 |
20090060580 | Image Forming Apparatus, an Image Forming Method and an Image Detecting Method - An image forming apparatus, includes: an exposure head that includes a plurality of imaging optical systems which are arranged in a first direction and a plurality of light emitting elements which emit lights to be imaged by the imaging optical systems; a latent image carrier that moves in a second direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first direction and carries a latent image formed by the exposure head; a developer that develops the latent image; and a detector that detects an image developed by the developer, wherein the image detected by the detector has a width in the first direction wider than that of an image formed by one imaging optical system. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060581 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is capable of printing half-toned images of high quality. The image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive body and a light emitting element array. A plurality of light emitting elements is aligned in the light emitting element array. Each light emitting element array emits light to form an electrostatic latent image of a pixel on the photoconductive drum. A controller controllably drives the plurality of light emitting elements to form the electrostatic latent image, each pixel being formed by a combination of a total of N (N>1) light emitting elements. Each element of the N light emitting elements is driven with a different amount of energy from remainders of the N light emitting elements. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060582 | OPTICAL SCANNING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING ERRORS - In an optical scanning device, a lateral magnification in a direction corresponding to a sub scanning direction of an optical system is adjusted to be small by a coupling optical system that includes a first lens and a second lens. As a result, scanning by a plurality of light beams can be performed with high precision while avoiding high costs. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060583 | Light source unit, optical scan apparatus, and image formation apparatus - A light source unit is provided which includes a light source with a plurality of light emission portions two-dimensionally arranged; a substrate on which the light source is mounted; a first support portion supporting the substrate; a bias member biasing the substrate towards the first support portion; a coupling element coupling a light beam emitted from the light source; a second support portion supporting the coupling element; and a holding member holding a position of the substrate relative to the first support portion. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060584 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming device includes a plurality of image forming units provided in parallel comprising a black image forming unit to form a black toner image and a plurality of color image forming units to form color toner images, an intermediate transfer device to primarily transfer color toner images formed by superimposing the toner images formed at each image forming unit, and a secondary transfer unit to transfer the color toner image to a transfer paper. The color image forming unit employs a non-magnetic-contact-type single-component development device to develop each color toner image with a single-component developer, and the black image forming unit is provided closest to the secondary transfer unit and employs a contact-type two-component development device to develop a black toner image with a two-component developer. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060585 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A communication unit has a first conveyance part connected to a toner cartridge and provided with a feed port for a toner from the toner cartridge, and a second conveyance part connected to a developing device and provided with a replenishment port for a toner to the developing device. In a state locked by the lock mechanism, the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part are connected to each other, and the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are opened, allowing for a toner replenishment. In a lock-released state, the feed port of the first conveyance part and the replenishment port of the second conveyance part are closed by a circular arc-shaped shutter member and a rotary shutter member, allowing the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part to be separable from each other. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060586 | TONER CONVEYANCE UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner conveyance unit is provided that can reliably prevent a toner from leaking and scattering. And an image forming apparatus is also provided having the toner conveyance unit. When a circular arc-shaped shutter member and a rotary shutter member are closed, a first conveyance part and a second conveyance part are adapted to separate from each other. When the circular arc-shaped shutter member and the rotary shutter member are open, the circular arc-shaped shutter member and the rotary shutter member rotate integrally so as to be enclosed in the tubular cylinder part, and to move a through hole to a position such as to constitute a portion of a second toner conveyance path, whereby the first conveyance part and the second conveyance part are adapted to be connected to each other so that a first toner conveyance path and the second toner conveyance path communicate with each other. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060587 | Development Device, Development Method, and Image Forming Device - A development device includes a developer container reserving a liquid developer containing toner particles and a carrier liquid. A developer supply member supplies a developer supporting member with liquid developer. An agitating member is disposed in the developer container and supplies the developer supply member with the liquid developer. A developer supporting member cleaning member removes liquid developer on the developer supporting member. The developer container includes a first developer holding section having at least one communication section for making liquid developer flow in, a second developer holding section for reserving liquid developer recovered by the developer supporting member cleaning member, and a partition member partitioning between the first and second developer holding sections, and at least one flowing section shifted from the communication section in an axial direction of the agitating member and allowing liquid developer to move between the first and second developer holding sections. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060588 | TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE - A toner cartridge includes a toner receptacle that houses toner, a plurality of stirring members housed in the toner receptacle, a plurality of gears meshing with each other on outside of the toner receptacle, and a phase display section. The stirring members are arranged next to each other in the toner receptacle and rotate to stir the toner. Each of the stirring members has a scraper that scrapes off the toner adhering to an inner surface of the toner receptacle. The gears rotate to rotate the stirring members in an interlocked manner with each other. The phase display section shows a meshing position of the gears so that the gears mesh with each other at a position where a phase difference along a rotating direction of the stirring members occurs between the scrapers of the stirring members that are next to each other. | 2009-03-05 |
20090060589 | TONER CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING TONER CARTRIDGE - A toner cartridge has first and second toner hosing portions configured to house toner. The first toner housing portion has a first bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second toner housing portion has a second bottom part that is arcuately curved. The second bottom part is next to the first bottom part and is situated at a position lower than the first bottom part. A third bottom part is provided between the first bottom part and the second bottom part. The third bottom part has a toner discharge port. | 2009-03-05 |