12th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 38 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140079341 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit which obtains an input image; a mask image obtaining unit which obtains a mask image indicating an unnecessary region in the input image; an image generation unit which (i) generates a first reversed image by performing, on a first region adjacent in a first direction to the unnecessary region, first processing for reversing and placing a first pixel group in a direction opposite the first direction, and (ii) generates a second reversed image by performing, on a second region adjacent in a second direction to the unnecessary region, second processing for reversing and placing a second pixel group in a direction opposite the second direction; and an image combining unit which generates a combined image by combining the first reversed image and the second reversed image which are generated by the image generation unit. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079342 | PACKAGE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PACKAGE, AND USE OF SUCH PACKAGE - A package including at least a first and a second side wall bonded to each other along at least one seam line forming a bond. The bond is peelable along at least a portion of the seam line. A first grip portion is formed on the first side wall, formed by a first folded-over portion of the first side wall folded along a first fold line and a second fold line. The first folded-over portion includes three layers of the first side wall, and all layers in the first folded-over portion are included in the bond. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079343 | Reclosable Flexible Film Packaging Products And Methods Of Manufacture - The present disclosure relates to a reclosable flexible film package with a flexible film having a folded edge, at least two opposing free edges, and at least a front panel and a back panel. The front and back panels define an interior space. The flexible film package also may have a score in the flexible film of the front panel forming a flap that defines an opening when the flap is moved upward, toward the folded edge and a label extending uninterrupted from edge to edge of the at least two opposing free edges, the label being attached on the film by pressure sensitive adhesive, and extending beyond the score on the front panel to reseal the package opening defined by the flap. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079344 | BAG WITH COLLAPSIBLE POCKET - A bag includes an interior compartment defined by front, rear, side, bottom, and top panels. A collapsible pocket is disposed in the interior compartment and is defined by a vertical divider, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall. The vertical divider is disposed between the front and rear panels and is slidable relative to the front and rear panels. The front wall is adjacent an inside surface of the front panel and is attached at opposite ends thereof to the one of the side panels and the vertical divider. The rear wall is adjacent an inside surface of the rear panel and is attached at opposite ends thereof to the side panel and the vertical divider. The collapsible pocket includes an expanded configuration the divider is spaced from the side panel and a collapsed configuration wherein the vertical divider is disposed adjacent the side panel. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079345 | LUBRICATING STRUCTURE FOR LINEAR MOTION GUIDE APPARATUS - A linear motion guide device includes a slider slidably attached onto a guide rail, an end cap having an inner side attached to the slider, a ball bearing device disposed between the slider and the guide rail, the end cap includes an inlet for receiving a lubricating fluid, two chambers formed in two legs, a groove communicating with the chambers of the end cap, and a casing having a compartment formed by an outer wall and communicating with the inlet of the end cap for receiving the lubricating fluid from the inlet of the end cap, and the outer wall of the casing is aligned with and directed toward the inlet of the end cap for resisting a flowing of the lubricating fluid. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079346 | BALL-BEARING SLIDE CARRIAGE DEVICE - A ball-bearing slide carriage device comprising (a) a ball-bearing slide carriage which has an inner space and is provided with a plurality of filling slots, buffering open channels located at ends and outside the filling slots and adjoining buffer terminals at outermost ends of the ball-bearing slide carriage and (b) a plurality of balls positioned in the filling slots and used in providing relative sliding effect. As such, the ball-bearing slide carriage depending on the buffering open channels for sliding and stopped at terminal points generates neither noises nor vibrations and features superior buffer quality, quiet effect, durability and fewest troubles. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079347 | SLIDE-TRACK BUFFERING DEVICE WITH A SMOOTHLY SLIDING CARRIAGE - A slide-track buffering device with a smoothly sliding carriage comprising: a control stand on which there are a guide plate extending forward, a guide chute at the rear part of the guide plate, and a beveled resisting groove in front of the guide chute; a slide carriage sliding on and covering the guide plate and comprising a shorter first area in the back, a locator under the first area, and an accommodating groove in front of the locator; at least a spring unit linking between the control stand and the slide carriage; a swing member which is held in the accommodating groove and located between the slide carriage and the control stand and is provided with a joint hole in the back and a boss underneath in order to engage the locator with the joint hole, accommodate the boss in the guide chute and embody superior smoothness and actuation. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079348 | ROLLING BEARING - A rolling bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements. A large number of inside dimples in which a liquid lubricant is retained and a large number of outside dimples in which a solid lubricant is retained are formed in at least one of an inner ring raceway surface and an outer ring raceway surface. The inside dimples are formed in a contact region at which the raceway surface contact the rolling elements or in a section of each non-contact region, the section being close to the contact region. The outside dimples are formed outside a portion in which the inside dimples are formed. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079349 | ROLLING BEARING - A bearing includes an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements. In the bearing, each of an inner ring raceway surface and an outer ring raceway surface has a contact area that comes into contact with the rolling elements, and a non-contact area that is formed adjacent to an outer side of an end portion of the contact area and does not come into contact with the rolling elements. A lubricant retaining portion having a recessed portion and a large number of non-uniform projections and depressions is formed at the non-contact area of at least one of the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079350 | BEARING WITH AN ENERGY PRODUCTION UNIT, IN PARTICULAR SELF-ALIGNING ROLLER BEARING FOR THE MOUNTING OF A ROLLER - A bearing, in particular rolling contact bearing ( | 2014-03-20 |
20140079351 | MILLIMETER-WAVE ELECTRO-OPTIC MODULATOR - A lithium niobate-based electro-optic modulator may include a ridged optical waveguide structure and/or a thinned substrate. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079352 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR - An optical connector includes a substrate, a light emitter, a case, an optical fiber, and a photo detector. The light emitter, the case, and the photo detector are positioned on the substrate, and the case covers the light emitter and the photo detector. The case defines a first slot and a second slot. The first slot is configured for splitting a light beam of the light emitter into a part transmitting to the optical fiber for data transmission and another part to a side surface of the second slot and directed to the photo detector for intensive and stability measurement of the light beam. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079353 | SPATIAL DIVISION DIVERSITY IN PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - An apparatus includes a plurality of input optical couplers and a plurality of output optical couplers. The input optical couplers are placed in a pattern to receive light from multiple locations of an end face of an input multimode optical fiber (MMOF). The output optical couplers are placed in a pattern to provide light to multiple locations of an end face of an output MMOF. The apparatus further includes a plurality of single-mode optical paths. Each of the paths is connected to a corresponding one of the input optical couplers and a corresponding one of the output optical couplers. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079354 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING OPTICAL CONNECTOR AND OPTICAL CONNECTOR - A method for producing an optical connector includes making only the core jut spherically from an end facet of an optical fiber by arc discharge, the optical fiber having a difference in index of refraction between a core and a clad at 1% to 3% by adding dopant that increases an index of refraction of the core and lowers a melting point of the core, and mounting the optical fiber processed by the arc discharge in a ferrule. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079355 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR HAVING SLOT FOR LOCATING OPTICAL FIBER AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING OPTICAL CONNECTOR - An optical connector includes a base including a main body and a number of optical elements, and a number of optical fibers. The main body includes a first surface, a third surface perpendicularly connecting the first surface, and a fourth surface facing away the third surface, and defines a number of slots, which is perpendicular to the third surface, in the in the first surface. The slots run through the third surface. Each of the slots includes a regular wide first section and a second section connecting the first section and running through the third surface. Each of the second section tapers from the third surface to the first section. The optical elements are formed on the fourth surface and aligned with the slots. The optical fibers are slid and fitted in the first sections, guided by the second sections. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079356 | FIELD TERMINABLE ST FORMAT OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR - An ST format optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with an ST receptacle or coupling, the housing having an ST bayonet-style format. The ST format optical connector also includes a collar body and a retainer disposed in the housing, where the collar body is retained between the housing and the retainer. The housing is prevented from fully rotating about the collar body and retainer. In addition, the connector can be deactivated for fiber repositioning or reuse. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079357 | CLEAVE HOLDER, AN ASSEMBLY, AND METHODS FOR CLEAVING ENDS OF OPTICAL FIBERS AND SECURING THEM TO A MULTI-OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR MODULE - A cleave holder is provided that allows the ends of optical fibers to be precisely stripped and cleaved and then secured at precise locations in a multi-optical fiber connector module. The cleave holder is secured to length-wise portions of optical fibers that extend through the cleave holder. The cleave holder has reference holes formed in its lower surface that allow it to be mounted on a fixture having pins on it that mate with the reference holes. Once the ends of the fibers have been stripped and cleaved, the cleaved ends are secured to precise locations within a connector module. The cleave holder and the connector module form an assembly that can be used together, with the cleave holder acting as a mounting structure for the assembly and as a strain relief mechanism. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079358 | OPTICAL CONNECTOR - An optical connector includes a substrate, a photoelectric element and a positioning element on the substrate, a lens element, and an optical fiber. The positioning element defines a through hole, in which the photoelectric element is received to allow visual inspection for determining if the photoelectric element is positioned to a designated position in relation to the positioning element, and includes a positioning structure. The lens element includes an incident surface, an emitting surface, a reflecting surface, a locating structure and a first lens formed in the incident surface, and a second lens formed on the emitting surface and optically aligned with the first lens via the reflecting surface. The lens element is precisely positioned on the positioning element by matching the locating structure with the positioning structure, to align the first lens with the photo electric element. The optical fiber is aligned with the second lens. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079359 | OPTICAL-ELECTRICAL COMPOSITE CABLE - An optical-electrical composite cable includes an optical fiber, a tubular resin inner cover to enclose the optical fiber, a plurality of electric wires disposed on an outside of the inner cover, and a tubular outer cover to collectively cover the plurality of electric wires. The plurality of electric wires are helically wound around an outer peripheral surface of the inner cover so as to be situated between the inner cover and the outer cover. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079360 | NANOTUBE FIBER OPTIC CABLE - A fiber optic cable is disclosed that includes an optic fiber contained within a nanotube. A graphene layer covers an end-surface of the optic fiber for wear protection. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079361 | Water-Swellable Element for Optical-Fiber Cables - An optical-fiber-cable structure includes an optical fiber surrounded by a protective polymeric tube. A water-blocking element is positioned between the optical fiber and the protective tube. The water-blocking element includes water-swellable particulate powder thermally bonded to a fibrous carrier element. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079362 | OPTICAL FIBER - An optical fiber | 2014-03-20 |
20140079363 | DOUBLE CLADDING CRYSTAL FIBER AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - The present invention relates to a double cladding crystal fiber and manufacturing method thereof, in which growing an YAG or a sapphire into a single crystal fiber by LHPG method, placing the single crystal fiber into a glass capillary for inner cladding, placing the single crystal fiber together with the glass capillary for inner cladding into a glass capillary for outer cladding in unison, heating the glass capillary for inner cladding and outer cladding by the LHPG method to attach to the outside of the single crystal fiber, and thus growing into a double cladding crystal fiber. When the present invention is applied to high power laser, by using the cladding pumping scheme, the high power pumping laser is coupled to the inner cladding layer, so the problems of heat dissipation and the efficiency impairment due to energy transfer up-conversion of high power laser are mitigated. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079364 | BRAIDED FIBER OPTIC CROSS-CONNECT SWITCHES - This invention discloses a highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch comprised of large numbers of densely packed fiber strands suspended within a common volume. In particular, apparatus and methods enabling programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100's-1000's) having structured and coherent braid representations are provided. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079365 | OPTICAL FIBER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - The present disclosure includes systems and apparatuses for an optical fiber management system. One embodiment of an optical fiber management system includes a cabinet comprising a system of building blocks that make up a rail-mounting system and an optical fiber management apparatus housed within one of the building blocks. The optical fiber management apparatus can comprise a housing, an adaptor plate resiliently connected to the housing, a splice tray, a housing cover, a radius limiter, and a base configured for integrated slack storage of at least one of buffer tube and ribbon cable. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079366 | PLATFORMS AND SYSTEMS FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE ATTACHMENT - Platforms for connecting fiber optic cable assemblies to fiber optic equipment using a universal footprint are disclosed. In one embodiment, a platform for connecting at least one fiber optic cable assembly to fiber optic equipment includes a coupling surface having at least one cable engagement feature, wherein the at least one cable engagement feature is configured to couple the at least one fiber optic cable assembly to the coupling surface, and a plurality of plate engagement features configured to be removably coupled to a plurality of equipment engagement features positioned on the fiber optic equipment. Fiber optic cable assembly coupling systems for coupling fiber optic cable assemblies to fiber optic equipment are also disclosed. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079367 | D1451 RADIATION CURABLE SUPERCOATINGS FOR SINGLE MODE OPTICAL FIBER - The first aspect of the instant claimed invention is a method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings for application to an optical fiber used in a telecommunications network. A Multi-layer Film Drawdown Method useful in the Method of formulating radiation curable Supercoatings is also described and claimed. Single mode Optical fibers coated with specific radiation curable Supercoatings are also described and claimed. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079368 | DISPLAY DEVICE AND TRANSMISSION DEVICE - A display device comprising: a reception unit; a display unit; a storage unit; and an acquisition unit. The reception unit receives a stream containing a plurality of video frames and first display timing information specifying a display timing of each video frame. The display unit displays each video frame at a corresponding display timing specified by the first display timing information. The storage unit stores an image and second display timing information specifying a display timing of the image. The acquisition unit acquires correction information specifying a correction amount for correcting the display timing of the image and thereby enabling the image to be displayed in synchronization with the video frames displayed by the display unit. The display unit further displays the image at a corrected display timing determined by correcting the display timing of the image by using the correction amount specified by the correction information. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079369 | Video Recording Method for Mobile Terminal, and Related Apparatus and System - A video recording method for mobile terminal, and a related apparatus and system are disclosed. The method includes: receiving a data signal which is in a motion-joint photographic experts group (M-JPEG) format and is output by a camera module, where an output time sequence of the data signal is consistent with an output time sequence of a luminance and chrominance YUV signal, and the data signal includes: an image signal and a video recording signal; if the received data signal is the image signal, performing video coding on the image recording signal sequentially, and storing video information obtained after the coding; and if the received data signal is the video recording signal, decoding the video recording signal, and outputting the decoded video recording signal to a display apparatus. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079370 | DIGITAL VIDEO CONVERTER AND METHOD FOR READING AND WRITING VIDEO STREAM - A digital video converter and a method for reading and writing a video stream are provided. The digital video converter includes a processing device and a storage device. The processing device runs an operating system, wherein the operating system is configured with a kernel and a user space. The storage device is coupled to the processing device and stores data. The processing device performs data read and write operations to the storage device through the kernel, where the data read and write operations performed to the storage device by the kernel do not involve the user space. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079371 | Video Editing Method and Tool - A computer-implemented method is provided for capturing one or more image frames of a real-time streaming video using a wrapper module configured to function with a video player. The wrapper module is in electronic communication with a server. The method includes receiving, by the wrapper module, during streaming of the video by the video player, an indication from a user of a current viewing location in the video to initiate image capturing. The method includes capturing, by the wrapper module, one or more image frames from the video based on the indication of the current viewing location. The method also includes transmitting, by the wrapper module, the one or more captured image frames to the server. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079372 | METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING MULTIPLE AUDIO SIGNALS - Provided are methods for synchronizing multiple video recordings of the same event using audio signals of the recordings. An algorithm is designed to generate candidate time offsets for pairwise matches of video recordings based on audio signals corresponding to the recordings, and combine the candidate time offsets to obtain the most accurate actual time offset between each pair of recordings. Each candidate time offset for each pairwise match of recordings is assigned a confidence measure indicating how likely it is that the particular time offset is correct for the given pair of recordings. The confidence measure assigned to a particular time offset is based on various components and characteristics of the audio signal pair corresponding to the video recordings. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079373 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - In an information processor having a function to check out a content to a portable device such as a portable disc player, a content is recorded to a content data base under the control of a content management program, and it is set under the control of a display/operation instruction program whether the recorded content has to be checked out to the portable device. If a content is recorded in case it has been set that the content has to be checked out, the content having been recorded in the content data base is checked out to the portable device. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079374 | Optically Readable Codes in a Content Delivery System - A method, apparatus, and software are provided for using an optically-readable code such as a quick-response (QR) code. The optically-readable code may represent a uniform resource identifier (URI) including parameters that represent a query, such as a query for content and/or other data. The query results may be used to command a content consumption device to record or otherwise obtain an item of content. The optically-readable code may additionally or alternatively be determined based upon a status of the device, such as what content, or portion thereof, is currently being displayed, and/or what error condition is being experienced. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079375 | ELECTRIC HEATING DEVICE AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE - An electric heating device suitable for heating an electric vehicle and having a novel structure is provided. The electric heating device includes: an electric motor that includes a stator having a plurality of stator coils arranged along the circumferential direction to generate a rotating magnetic field and a disk-shaped rotor that includes a plurality of one-turn coils disposed correspondingly to the stator coils and a soft magnetic metal plate supporting the one-turn coils; and a fan secured to the soft magnetic metal plate on a side thereof opposite from the one-turn coils and including a vane wheel that has a plurality of vanes and rotates integrally with the rotor. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079376 | THERMAL REACTOR WITH IMPROVED GAS FLOW DISTRIBUTION - Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for improving gas distribution during thermal processing. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate comprising a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, wherein the substrate support is configured to support and rotate the substrate, a gas inlet assembly coupled to an inlet of the chamber body and configured to provide a first gas flow to the processing volume, and an exhaust assembly coupled to an outlet of the chamber body, wherein the gas inlet assembly and the exhaust assembly are disposed on opposite sides of the chamber body, and the exhaust assembly defines an exhaust volume configured to extend the processing volume. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079377 | LIQUID HEATER - The invention is directed to a liquid heater for rapidly heating a liquid without overheating the liquid. The liquid heater comprises a liquid flow channel having a passage through which liquid flows, a heating part disposed outside the liquid flow channel, a heat reflecting part facing a heat radiating side of the heating part, and a cooling part through which a cooling medium flows adjacent a reverse side of a reflecting surface of the heat reflecting part for cooling the heat reflecting part. Radiant heat not absorbed in the liquid is reflected by the heat reflecting part. The heat reflecting part reflects radiant heat cooled by the cooling part so that the body of the liquid heater and peripheral members are maintained at a temperature not higher than a predetermined temperature to prevent overheating the liquid. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079378 | UNIVERSAL UNDERWATER ENCLOSURE FOR CAMERAS AND CAMCORDERS - A universal underwater enclosure has a spherical shell having a hollow in which a camera, camcorder, or other device can be inserted, a lens attached to the shell that can be opened to insert a device, and glove assemblies extending into the hollow for manipulation of a device placed therein. The glove assemblies have fingers and not full gloves, reducing the dimensions of the enclosure—thereby minimizing buoyancy. A mounting system attaches to a device's tripod mount receptor, fixes the device, and allows it to be adjusted in three dimensions. A pressure equalization system relieves stress on the enclosure, which exhibits neutral buoyancy. A flash mounted on the shell operates independently of any device. Modular lens pods replace the lens to accommodate various other lenses. The glove assemblies have perimeter lips secured to the shell by fasteners and a bezel around teardrop-shaped cut-out holes in the shell. The fingers allow access to all of a device's controls. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079379 | LENS APPARATUS, SUPPORT APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM - A lens apparatus is electrically connected to a support apparatus including a detecting unit that detects displacement information corresponding to pan or tilt. The lens apparatus includes a converter configured to convert the displacement information into control information; an image stabilization unit configured to perform image stabilization by using the control information; and a format transmitting unit configured to transmit a signal used for discriminating a format of the displacement information to the converter. The converter uses the signal transmitted from the format transmitting unit to convert the displacement information into the control information. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079380 | OPTICAL DEVICE - An optical device includes an optical system, a diaphragm unit, a diaphragm unit, a focus-lens driving unit, a diaphragm driving unit, and a diaphragm control unit. The diaphragm control unit controls the diaphragm driving unit in accordance with the position to which the focus lens group has been moved by the focus-lens driving unit, thereby controlling the aperture opening of the diaphragm unit and ultimately limit a light beam passing through the camera system. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079381 | LIGHT FOCUSING DEVICE - A light focusing device for detachably coupling to a camera with a built-in flash. The device comprises a mount for detachably coupling to the camera; a housing coupled with the mount, the housing configured to enclose the built-in flash when the built-in flash is an enabled position; and a lens coupled with the housing such that light generated by the built-in flash is focused by the lens such that intensity of the light is increased farther away than what the built-in flash is able to do on its own. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079382 | LIGHT FOCUSING DEVICE - A light focusing device for detachably coupling to a camera with a built-in flash. The device comprises a mount for detachably coupling to the camera; a housing coupled with the mount, the housing configured to enclose the built-in flash when the built-hi flash is an enabled position and comprising an alignment verification window; and a lens coupled with the housing such that light generated by the built-in flash is focused by the lens such that intensity of the light is increased farther away than what the built-in flash is able to do on its own. One or more spacers are included to adjust the height of the housing with respect to the flash for proper alignment. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079383 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING 3D PHOTOGRAPHS - A 3D photographic printer uses a monochrome panel for displaying two or more images for composing a 3D photograph. Each image has a plurality of color image components. A light source with selectable color light components is used to illuminate the monochrome panel corresponding to the displayed color image components. The images are displayed at different locations so that these images can be projected onto a 3D print material through a projection lens at different projection angles. With the digital display device, it is possible to electronically locate the images at different locations and shift the images or mechanically moving the display device during the 3D photographic composing process. It is also possible that only the print material is mechanically shifted to different locations. The display device and the projection lens can be stationary. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079384 | LENS BARREL ASSEMBLY AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A lens barrel assembly includes: a lens group; a lens barrel that support the lens group and includes, on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a first movement pin projected outwardly and a second guide groove that is extended along a circumferential direction; and an outer barrel disposed outside the lens barrel and includes, on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a first guide groove extended along the circumferential direction to be coupled with the first movement pin, and a second movement pin that is projected inwardly to be coupled with the second guide groove, where the lens barrel is moved in an optical axis direction as the outer barrel rotates, and where a movement section of the lens barrel comprises a first movement section, a second movement section, and an intersection movement section that connects the first movement section with the second movement section. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079385 | TRANSMITTING DEVICE, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR TRANSMISSION LEVEL CONTROL - A transmitting device includes a transmitter configured to transmit signal light to an external receiver over a medium included in a transmission line; and a controller configured to control a transmission level of the signal light in accordance with a reception level of probe light which is input from the receiver over the medium in the transmission line. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079386 | COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVER, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING INTERCHANNEL SKEW IN COHERENT OPTICAL RECEIVER - In a coherent optical receiver, sufficient demodulation becomes impossible and consequently receiving performance deteriorates if an interchannel skew arises, therefore, a coherent optical receiver according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes a local light source; a 90-degree hybrid circuit; an optoelectronic converter; an analog-to-digital converter; and a digital signal processing unit, wherein the 90-degree hybrid circuit makes multiplexed signal light interfere with local light from the local light source, and outputs a plurality of optical signals separated into a plurality of signal components; the optoelectronic converter detects the optical signals and outputs detected electrical signals; the analog-to-digital converter quantizes the detected electrical signals and outputs quantized signals; and the digital signal processing unit includes a skew compensation unit for compensating a difference in propagation delay between the plurality of signal components, and a demodulation unit for demodulating the quantized signals. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079387 | ADAPTIVE QUANTUM INFORMATION PROCESSING - A method and system for adaptive quantum information processing can be provided by determining a state of a quantum channel governing an environment with a tomography module. Next a scope of the quantum channel can be calculated with a scope algorithm module. Finally, an optimization module can be utilized to optimize the way to quantum mechanically represent information to be transmitted through the quantum channel based on the scope. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079388 | Measuring In-Band Optical Signal-To-Noise Ratio (OSNR) - One measurement system comprises a polarimeter with a polarimeter detector bandwidth that partially overlaps with a signal bandwidth or completely overlaps with a signal bandwidth. The polarimeter measures a state of polarization (SOP) or a degree of polarization (DOP) of the signal in the presence of noise. The system further comprises a sampler that receives polarimeter signals from the polarimeter and samples those received signals at a specified sampling rate. The sampler outputs sampled data to a processor that calculates a mean DOP for the samples. Subsequently, the OSNR is determined from the calculated mean DOP. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079389 | PATH SELECTING METHOD AND APPARATUS - Embodiments of the present invention disclose a path selecting method and apparatus. The method includes: computing an end-to-end path for a newly added service according to network topology and a wavelength constraint, and assigning a wavelength to the path; computing performance of each existing service and performance of the newly added service in a network according to physical impairment information collected in the network, where the physical impairment information includes a gain reference spectrum of each optical amplifier in the network; and performing impairment check on performance of each service, and performing path selection for the newly added service according to a result of the impairment check. The apparatus includes a path computation module, a performance computation module and an impairment check module. According to the embodiments, efficiency of network update or rerouting is improved. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079390 | IN-BAND SUPERVISORY DATA MODULATION USING COMPLEMENTARY POWER MODULATION - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of modulating supervisory data onto an optical signal includes increasing a first power level of a first polarization component of an optical signal based on supervisory data. The method further includes decreasing a second power level of a second polarization component of the optical signal based on the supervisory data. The decrease in the second power level is substantially the same as the increase in the first power level such that a total power of the optical signal is substantially constant. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079391 | IN-BAND SUPERVISORY DATA MODULATION - According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of modulating supervisory data onto an optical signal includes receiving supervisory data and adjusting a characteristic of a carrier of the optical signal for at least one of a first polarization component of the optical signal and a second polarization component of the optical signal based on the received supervisory data. The characteristic may be adjusted such that there is a relative difference between the characteristic for the first polarization component and the second polarization component. The relative difference of the characteristic between the first polarization component and the second polarization component may indicate the supervisory data. Alternately, the characteristic may be adjusted such that there is a change in a polarization orientation of the carrier on a Poincaré sphere that indicates the supervisory data. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079392 | Multi-Mode Optical Transmission Line With Differential Modal Group Delay Compensation - An apparatus includes an all-optical transmission line having, at one wavelength, a pair of relatively orthogonal optical propagating modes whose local group velocities differ along a part of the all-optical transmission line. The all-optical transmission line is formed by a sequence of optically end-connected multi-mode fiber segments. The segments include, at least, 80% of the optical path length of the all-optical transmission line. Each segment is configured such that a differential group delay between the pair varies monotonically there along and changes by, at least, 200 pico-seconds thereon. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079393 | REMOTE TIMING COMMUNICATIONS - A system, method, and optical switch for communicating timing. A determination is made whether one of a number of data streams are available. Packets are received at a remote node in response to determining one of the number of data streams is available. A timing characteristic of the at least one of the packets is associated with a tick of a reference clock. The tick of the reference clock is extracted utilizing the timing characteristic of the at least one of the packets. A secondary clock is disciplined with the reference clock by adjusting the secondary clock based on a difference between times measured by the reference clock and the secondary clock to generate a clock signal. The clock signal is communicated to one or more interfaces for distributing. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079394 | Optical Communication Of Interleaved Symbols Associated With Polarizations - An apparatus comprises a coherent optical transmitter. The coherent optical transmitter comprises a first modulator for generating a first polarization, a second modulator for generating a second polarization, and a symbol interleaver configured to receive a first symbol stream intended to be transmitted on a first polarization and a second symbol stream intended to be transmitted on a second polarization, to direct one portion of symbols of the first symbol stream to the first modulator for modulation onto the first polarization and another portion of the symbols of the first symbol stream to the second modulator for modulation onto the second polarization, and to direct one portion of symbols of the second symbol stream to the first modulator for modulation onto the first polarization and another portion of the symbols of the second symbol stream to the second modulator for modulation onto the second polarization. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079395 | Raman Crosstalk Mitigation in a Multi-Wavelength System Utilizing an Optical Equalizing Signal Modulated with Composite Bandwidth-Limited Data Sources - A network element comprising a phase matched or phase controlled interconnect configured to receive a data signal sample, a Raman equalization transmitter, and a Raman crosstalk equalization conditioning circuit configured to generate a Raman mitigation signal using the data signal sample to be transmitted by the Raman equalization transmitter. Included is a method comprising multiplexing incoherent data signals with a video signal and a Raman mitigation signal to be co-propagated on a single optical fiber, wherein the Raman mitigation signal is selected to destructively interfere with Raman crosstalk noise induced on the video signal. Also included is a system comprising a video signal component configured to transmit a video signal, data stream signal components configured to transmit a data stream signals, a Raman crosstalk equalization system configured to transmit a Raman mitigation signal, and an optical multiplexer configured to multiplex the signals for co-propagation onto a single transmission fiber. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079396 | COMMUNICATION METHOD, OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, STATION-SIDE OPTICAL-LINE TERMINAL APPARATUS, AND USER-SIDE OPTICAL-LINE TERMINAL APPARATUS - An ONU includes the optical transceiver capable of an operation in a power-saving mode in which power consumption is reduced by stopping transmission while continuing reception, and a control device that controls to tentatively validate transmission of the optical transceiver and outputs a response signal when a control signal is received from an OLT during an operation in a power-saving state. Moreover, the OLT includes the control device that allocates a transmission bandwidth to the ONU even while the optical transceiver of the ONU operates in a power-saving mode and stops transmission and determines whether a communication failure occurs or the ONU is in operation in a power-saving mode based on the response signal received by a transceiver of the OLT. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079397 | SERIALLY-DISTRIBUTED DEVICES IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Serially-distributed devices in a communication network include a cable including communication wires, a plurality of devices connected in series with the communication wires along a length of the cable, and a headend interface connected at one end of the cable and operable to provide a communication interface with the devices. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079398 | Architecture to Communicate with Standard Hybrid Fiber Coaxial RF Signals over a Passive Optical Network (HFC PON) - One or more overlay wavelengths are applied to a GPON architecture to provide sufficient, cost-effective forward bandwidth per home for targeted, unique narrowcast services to allow traditional HFC operators to use a PON architecture with their existing HFC equipment. A separate return path capability using a separate coaxial cable with RF signals to the GPON may also be used. This return capability may be provided either by a fiber optic link or coaxial link from the home. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079399 | Time to Time-Frequency Mapping and Demapping for Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) - Embodiments include, but are not limited to, systems and methods for enabling Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in the upstream in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network over Coax (EPoC) network. Embodiments include systems and methods for translating Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) upstream time grants to OFDMA resources represented by individual subcarriers of an upstream OFDMA frame. In an embodiment, the translation of EPON upstream time grants to OFDMA resources ensures that Coaxial Network Units (CNUs) sharing an OFDMA frame do not use overlapping subcarriers within the frame. Embodiments further include systems and methods for timing upstream transmissions by the CNUs in order for the transmissions to be received within the same upstream OFDMA frame at a Fiber Coax Unit (FCU). Embodiments further include systems and methods for re-generating a data burst from OFDMA resources for transmission from the FCU to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT). | 2014-03-20 |
20140079400 | FIBER OPTIC DATA NETWORKS THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY CARRY NETWORK DATA AND CONTROL SIGNALS OVER THE SAME FIBER OPTIC LINKS AND RELATED METHODS AND APPARATUS - Fiber optic data networks have a first network device that has a first optical transmitter that is configured to transmit an optical signal having a first wavelength. A fiber optic communications channel provides a data connection between the first network device and a second network device. The network further includes a second optical transmitter that is configured to transmit an optical signal having a second wavelength that is different from the first wavelength. A coupling device is provided that is configured to inject the signal having the second wavelength that is output by the second optical transmitter onto the fiber optic communications channel. These fiber optic data networks may carry control data in real time on the same optical fibers that are used to carry the normal network traffic. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079401 | WAVELENGTH-DIVISION MULTIPLEXING OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING OPTICAL PERFORMANCE OF AN OUTPUT SIGNAL FOR THE SYSTEM - A wavelength-division multiplexing optical communication system and a method for measuring optical performance of an output signal for the system. The optical communication system includes: a service-provider device; a local node; and a plurality of subscriber devices. The service-provider device includes: a plurality of first optical transceivers; a first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer (OD/OM) connected to the plurality of first optical transceivers; and a seed-light source providing seed light. Each subscriber device includes a second optical transceiver. The local node connects the service-provider device and the plurality of subscriber devices to each other using a DWDM link comprising: a second multiplexer/demultiplexer (OD/OM); and a single-mode optical fiber for transmission. Here, the optical intensity of an output signal of the second optical transceiver is determined by compensating for the value of the loss caused when the output signal passes through the second OD/OM of the local node. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079402 | Dynamic hitless ODUflex resizing in optical transport networks - The present invention and its embodiments are made to provide for dynamic hitless resizing in optical transport network without any identification of matching time slots by the Network Management System (NMS) or any control plane signaling including Generalised Multi Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS). An aspect of the invention provides for a method of hitless ODUflex connection resizing in an optical transport network by incrementing or decrementing the ODUflex connection between the nodes, based on an indication command given to a source node for bandwidth increase or decrease, by identifying and matching at least one time slot through Link Connection Resizing (LCR) protocol message exchanges. Another aspect of the invention provides for a method of hitless ODUflex connection resizing in an optical transport network by decrementing the matching time slot used for the incrementing operation, in case of unsuccessful incrementing operation between nodes. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079403 | HIGH-SPEED PLUGGABLE RIGID-END FLEX CIRCUIT - High-speed pluggable rigid-end flex circuit. A circuit includes a flexible section, rigid section, connector disposed on the rigid section, and electrically conductive signal transmission line electrically coupled to the connector. The flexible section includes a first portion of a flexible insulating layer. The rigid section includes a second portion of the flexible insulating layer and a rigid insulating layer disposed on the second portion of the flexible insulating layer. The connector is configured to form a pluggable conductive connection. The electrically conductive signal transmission line includes a first signal trace having a root mean square surface roughness below 20 micrometers and a filled signal via configured to pass through at least a portion of the rigid insulating layer. The flexible and rigid insulating layers have a dissipation factor equal to or below a ratio of 0.004 and a dielectric constant equal to or below a ratio of 3.7. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079404 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FREE SPACE OPTICAL COMMUNICATION UTILIZING A MODULATED ELECTRO-OPTICAL POLYMER RETRO-REFLECTOR - A free space optical communication system (FSOCS) comprising a modulating retro-reflector (MRR) to receive an interrogation beam from a transceiver, and to modulate and reflect the interrogation beam. The MRR comprising a transmissive electro-optical polymer (EOP) modulator, a signal generator, and a retro-reflector, wherein the transmissive EOP modulator is to modulate the interrogation beam's polarization, the signal generator is operatively coupled to the EOP modulator and is to supply the modulation signal, and the retro-reflector is to reflect a modulated beam back towards the transceiver. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079405 | OVERMOULDING METHOD AND OVERMOULDED ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An overmoulded electronic assembly wherein a moulded thermoplastic cover encapsulates and is in direct contact with the electronic components, printed circuit board and an antenna is disclosed. There also a disclosed a method of fabricating an overmoulded electronic assembly using an injection moulding machine and where the thermoplastic cover encapsulates and is in direct contact with the electronic components, printed circuit board and an antenna. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079406 | FRAME FORMATTING FOR HIGH RATE OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS - Methods, systems, and devices are described for formatting of data streams to be transmitted over fiber optic channels, and for processing received optical signals. A data transmission device may include a digital coding and modulation module that encodes a digital data stream, inserts unique words into the digital data stream, and modulates the encoded data stream and unique words onto optical channels for transmission over an optical fiber. A demodulation and decoding device may include a unique word identification module that identifies the unique words inserted in each optical channel stream, determines one or more characteristics of the plurality of optical channels based on the unique words, and provides the one or more characteristics to one or more other modules in the demodulator and decoding device. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079407 | UPDATING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EQUALIZER COEFFICIENT, RECEIVER AND OTPICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - The present invention provides an updating apparatus and method for an equalizer coefficient, receiver and optical communication system. The updating method comprises: receiving an optical signal transmitted by a transmitter in an optical communication system, the optical signal comprising transmission data and a constant modulus signal for updating a coefficient of an equalization filter; performing coherent detection and analog-to-digital conversion on the optical signal, so as to obtain a digital electric signal; and updating the coefficient of the equalization filter at a symbol corresponding to the constant modulus signal in the digital electric signal. With the embodiments of the present invention, not only the coefficients of the equalizer may be optimized, but also being adapted to signals in various modulation formats, and the complexity of the channel equalization may be lowered as well. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079408 | COEFFICIENT DETERMINING APPARATUS, EQUALIZER, RECEIVER AND TRANSMITTER - Embodiments of the present invention provide a coefficient determining apparatus, equalizer, receiver and transmitter. The coefficient determining apparatus comprises: a synchronizer configured to find a position of a training sequence from signals containing the training sequence received by a transmitter; and a first processor configured to set an initial tap coefficient of an equalizer according to the received signals and the training sequence; wherein in each polarization state, the training sequence comprises n pairs of training symbols, in the n pairs of training symbols, the training symbols of the same pair being identical, the training symbols of the different pair being different, a cyclic prefix and a cyclic postfix being respectively inserted before and after each pair of training symbols, and n being an integer greater than 1. By using the training sequence contained in the transmitted signals to determine an initial tap coefficient of the equalizer relatively close to the optimal value, channel damages may be approximately compensated, and the receiver is facilitated in further processing the signals. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079409 | METHODS OF TIME SYCHRONISATION IN COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS - A method 10 of providing a path delay asymmetry for time synchronization between a master clock at a first client node and a slave clock at a second client node across a server communications network. The method comprises: mapping a first time protocol signal (TPS) carrying master clock time protocol data onto a first transmission signal, determining a forward mapping delay, d | 2014-03-20 |
20140079410 | LASER DRIVER PEAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS - In an optical data communication system transmitter, in which a laser is driven with a laser modulation signal in response to a serial data stream, the laser driver adds peaking to a bit other than the first bit following a bit transition. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079411 | IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM - A user-friendly image forming system is described which can notify users of the situation of sheets remaining on conveying routes when a paper jam occurs. The image forming system includes a conveyance unit for conveying sheets, a display unit for displaying information, a jam determination unit for determining if a paper jam occurs on the conveying routes, and a control unit for controlling the conveyance unit and the display unit on the basis of the result of determination by the jam determination unit and the position of the sheet managed by a paper management unit. When a paper jam occurs, the control unit determines whether or not a sheet remaining on the conveying route can be automatically discharged by driving the conveyance unit, and displays the result of determination on the display unit in association with the position of the sheet. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079412 | DETERMINATION OF EFFECTIVE AMOUNT OF REMAINING LIFE OF TONER CARTRIDGE - An image forming system includes at least one toner cartridge, an image forming unit, and a cartridge life determination module. The toner cartridge may include toner and at least one component. The image forming unit may selectively form an image in one of a low coverage mode and a high coverage mode such that a greater amount of the toner is used in the high coverage mode than the low coverage mode in a formation of the respective image. The cartridge life determination module may determine an amount of remaining life of the toner, an amount of remaining life of the at least one component, and an effective amount of remaining life of the at least one toner cartridge based on the amount of remaining life of the toner and the amount of remaining life of the at least one component. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079413 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USING TONER SHAPE FACTOR TO CONTROL TONER CONCENTRATION - System and methods for controlling toner properties in a two component development system through the toner shape factor. In particular, the present embodiments provide a method for controlling toner concentrations by tailoring the circularity value ranges of the toner particles to prevent dysfunctions and provide a more robust and optimized xerographic system. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079414 | DEVELOPER REPLENISHING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An apparatus has a controller that controls a first supply mode in which a drive portion is driven under a first drive condition based on a detection result of a developer detection portion in an executable manner, in a case where the controller detects the absence of developer even when the container main body is driven for a predetermined time after the developer detection portion detects the absence of developer, the controller changes the mode from the first supply mode to a second supply mode in which the container main body is driven under a second drive condition in which a quantity of rotation of the container main body per unit time is less than the first drive condition. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079415 | DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing device includes a developer storage chamber configured to store developer to be supplied to the development chamber, a partition configured to separate a development chamber and the developer storage chamber and having an opening allowing communication between the developer storage chamber and the development chamber, and a protruding portion configured to protrude toward the inside of the developer storage chamber from the partition on a downstream side of the opening in the rotation direction of a rotating shaft, and within one turn of rotation of the rotating shaft, a receiving member moves while contacting the protruding portion according to the rotation of the rotating shaft. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079416 | DEVELOPER STORAGE UNIT, DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developer storage unit includes a receiving portion which is provided on a rotating shaft, and configured to receive a developer falling from a conveyance member. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079417 | PRINTING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In a printing apparatus having full-color and monochrome print processes and a method therefor, whether a page to be printed is color or monochrome is checked. The presence of an immediately preceding page which is successively printed before a page to be printed that is determined to be monochrome, and the attribute of the immediately preceding page are determined. The presence of a succeeding page which is successively printed after the page to be printed, and the attribute of the succeeding page are determined. The number of pages corresponding to the determination results is set. The print process of the page to be printed is decided on the basis of the presence of succeeding pages corresponding to the number of pages and their attributes. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079418 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a power source to output a voltage having an alternating waveform to transfer a toner image from an image bearing member to a recording medium. A time-averaged value (Vave) of the voltage has a polarity in a transfer direction, in which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member to the recording medium, and an absolute value of the time-averaged value is greater than a midpoint value (Voff) of the voltage intermediate between a maximum value and a minimum value of the voltage. As a roughness of the recording medium increases, a duty ratio (Duty) expressed by A/(A+B) is reduced, where A is an area of the waveform of the voltage in a return direction opposite the transfer direction relative to the midpoint value in one cycle and B is an area in the transfer direction relative to the midpoint value. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079419 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a charging bias application section, a static eliminating bias application section, and a control section. In the case where the image forming unit causes an image carrier to be rotated without forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, the control section performs a bias control to allow the charging bias application section to apply to a charging section a smaller charging bias than used in forming a toner image and allow the static eliminating bias application section to apply to a static eliminating section a smaller static eliminating bias than used in forming the toner image. The control section performs the bias control to increase respective values of the charging bias and the static eliminating bias every one revolution of the image carrier until the charging bias and the static eliminating bias in forming the toner image are reached. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079420 | WET-TYPE IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A wet-type image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner developer layer, and a toner amount detection unit. The toner amount detection unit includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit. The wavelength characteristics of a light emission intensity of the light-emitting unit and light reception sensitivity of the toner amount detection unit are set such that an intensity of detection sensitivity of the toner amount detection unit in accordance with a product of a light emission intensity of the light-emitting unit and light reception sensitivity of the light-receiving unit is greater in a wavelength region in which a characteristic value based on a product of a transmittance of the toner developer layer and a reflectivity of the image carrier as a reference for an emission light wavelength is included in a predetermined range, than in other wavelength regions. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079421 | TRANSFER DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD - A transfer device includes a power supply control unit, a direct-current (DC) power supply, an alternating-current (AC) power supply, and a transfer unit. The power supply control unit controls a first control signal for controlling a DC voltage and a second control signal for controlling an AC voltage based on a condition relating to image formation. The DC power supply outputs the DC voltage based on the first control signal. The AC power supply selectively outputs, with a particular waveform, either of the DC voltage output from the DC power supply or a superimposed voltage obtained by superimposing the AC voltage determined based on the second control signal on the DC voltage output from the DC power supply. The transfer unit transfers a developer onto a sheet using a voltage output from the AC power supply. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079422 | TRANSFER DEVICE, METHOD FOR PERFORMING THE SAME AND IMAGE FORMING DEVICE - A transfer device comprising: a load including a transferring unit, the transferring unit being configured to transfer an image on a transferable material; a direct current source connected to the load and configured to apply a direct voltage to the load; and an alternating current source connected between the load and the direct current source in attachable and detachable manner, the alternating current source being configured to selectively apply to the load an overlapping voltage that is formed by overlapping an alternating voltage and the direct voltage. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079423 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR CAUSING A COMPUTER TO EXECUTE THE METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a toner image forming unit that forms a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer unit that transfers the toner image on the image carrier to a transfer target having ridges and valleys on a surface thereof; an adjusting unit that adjusts a ratio of A/B, where A is a transfer ratio [%] from the image carrier to a valley portion of the transfer target while B is a transfer ratio [%] from the image carrier to a ridge portion of the transfer target, based on an adjustment input by a user; and a control unit that controls a transfer condition of the transfer unit based on the ratio of A/B adjusted by the adjusting unit. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079424 | FIXING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND FIXING METHOD - A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body, a heat shield movably disposed opposite the fixing rotary body, an opposed body contacting the fixing rotary body to form a nip therebetween through which a recording medium is conveyed, and a temperature detector to detect a temperature of at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body. A controller, operatively connected to the heat shield and the temperature detector, determines a rotation angled position to which the heat shield is moved based on a size of the recording medium and the temperature of the at least one of the fixing rotary body and the opposed body detected by the temperature detector. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079425 | HEATER CONTROL DEVICE, FIXING DEVICE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A heater control device that performs phase control of AC power and supplies phase-controlled power to a heater, the heater control device including: a control unit configured to, in the phase control, gradually increase an on-duty ratio until a target power amount is supplied to the heater; and a judgment unit configured to judge whether or not the on-duty ratio is within a predetermined range of on-duty ratios including a 50% on-duty ratio. The control unit (i) increases the on-duty ratio by a first amount while the on-duty ratio is within the predetermined range, and (ii) increases the on-duty ratio by a second amount while the on-duty ratio is not within the predetermined range. The first amount is greater than the second amount. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079426 | METHOD AN APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A PRINTING SYSTEM - An approach is provided for managing a printing system. The approach involves determining at least one printer of the printing system is capable of at least five-color printing. The approach also involves determining a print job to be processed by the printing system includes using a custom colorant. The approach further involves determining if the custom colorant is ready for use, if an alternative colorant is ready for use, or if any custom colorants or alternative colorants are within a predetermined proximity of the printer. The approach additionally involves causing a preview of an output of the print job to be rendered and displayed, causing the print job to be processed or held, and causing one or more colorants to be ordered or made ready for use if the print job is held. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079427 | Method and System for Efficient Duplex Printing - An imaging device, including one or more imaging units for use in transferring toner to media sheets, one of the imaging units being a black imaging unit for transferring black toner; a media transport path having a duplex path, the duplex path having at least one set of rollers for independently moving media sheets through the duplex path; and a controller operatively coupled to the one or more imaging units and the media transport path, for staging one or more media sheets in the duplex path for a period of time. The period of time results in an increase in the interpage gap which may be utilized while the imaging device interrupts a printing operation to perform any of a number of operations. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079428 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, HOST APPARATUS, SERVER, AND METHOD OF PERFORMING IMAGE FORMING JOB THEREOF - An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, an interface unit which is connected to a host apparatus and at least one of other image forming apparatuses, an image forming unit which prints image data received through the interface unit, and a controller which, if image data is received when the image forming apparatus is in a normal mode, controls the image forming unit to perform an image forming job using the image data, and if the image data is received when the image forming apparatus is in a power saving mode, controls the interface unit to transmit the image data to another image forming apparatus so that the another image forming apparatus performs an image forming job. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079429 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a power supply circuit, at least one motor configured to receive electric power from the power supply circuit, a photosensitive body configured to be rotated by the motor for forming an image on a sheet, a charger configured to charge the photosensitive body, a high voltage generation circuit configured to receive electric power from the power supply circuit and generate a high voltage applied to the charger, and a control device. The control device is configured to determine whether a motor activation condition to activate the motor is satisfied, determine whether a limitation condition to limit a peak of a current output from the power supply circuit is satisfied, and regulate the current flowing through the high-voltage generation circuit if the motor activation condition and the limitation condition are satisfied. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079430 | DEVELOPING CARTRIDGE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A developing cartridge includes a housing including first and second sidewalls; a developing roller, received by the sidewalls, and rotatable about a first axis line; a coupling rotatable about a second axis line parallel with the first axis line, wherein the coupling transfers rotational force to the developing roller, the rotational force being input by an drive input part, which advances and retreats, in a direction along the second axis line; and a moving member received so that the moving member can be moved along the advancing and retreating direction. The moving member has a pushing part, which is pushed toward the second sidewall, and an electrode part, which applies developing bias, and wherein when the pushing part is pushed, the moving member moves toward the second sidewall, so that the electrode part protrudes more from the second sidewall than before the pushing part was pushed. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079431 | CHARGING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND CHARGING UNIT - A charging device includes a discharge electrode configured to charge a surface of an image carrier; a charging device body including an opening portion that is provided so as to surround the discharge electrode and be opposed to a surface of the image carrier across a longitudinal direction of the discharge electrode; a charging duct member that is provided so as to surround at least the entire opening portion and configured to introduce and exhaust an airflow within the surrounded area; an intake unit configured to generate an airflow to be guided into the charging duct member; and an exhaust unit configured to exhaust the airflow guided. The charging duct member includes an airflow wall forming unit for covering, with an airflow wall, the entire opening portion from an upstream end to a downstream end in a rotation direction of the image carrier at the opening portion. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079432 | DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING CONTAINER, DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING UNIT, PROCESS CATRIDGE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A fixing portion | 2014-03-20 |
20140079433 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a first side frame and a second side frame facing each other and supporting a part of the image forming portion, a lower frame connecting the first side frame and the second side frame below the image forming portion, a lower voltage power supply board including a low voltage circuit configured to lower a voltage from an external power supply to a specified voltage and supply the specified voltage to other units, and a cover. The lower frame has an upper surface facing upward and includes a plurality of fixing portions. The low voltage power supply board is fixed to the fixing portions of the lower frame. The cover covers the lower voltage power supply board on a side thereof opposite to the lower frame. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079434 | TRANSFER DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus, includes: a main body; a cover configured to be provided so as to be capable of being opened and closed with respect to the main body; an attachment unit configured to be provided on the cover; a unit configured to be attached to the attachment unit; a positioning member configured to, on closing of the cover, position the unit with respect to a member attached to the main body or the main body; a guiding member configured to guide the unit to the positioning member; and a protrusion configured to be provided at the guiding member to protrude in an attaching direction of the unit. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079435 | NOVEL REACTIVE COMPOUND, CHARGE TRANSPORTING FILM, PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE, ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC PHOTORECEPTOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - Provided is a reactive compound represented by the following General Formula (I): | 2014-03-20 |
20140079436 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus having: a rotating member adapted to support an image; a first drive source configured to generate a drive force; a transmission mechanism configured to transmit the generated drive force toward the rotating member, the mechanism including an upstream gear and a downstream gear configured to receive the drive force therefrom; a sensor configured to output a signal indicating a rotational status of the rotating member; a control circuit configured to generate a control signal appropriate for non-uniform rotation of the rotating member, on the basis of the signal outputted by the sensor; and an actuator configured to cause a rotation axis of the first drive source or the transmission mechanism to pivot, in accordance with the control signal, thereby changing a force with which the upstream gear pushes the downstream gear into rotation such that the non-uniform rotation is cancelled out. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079437 | ILLUMINATOR AND IMAGE READING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus employing an illuminator configured to irradiate light to a photosensitive body to change a level of electrical potential of the photosensitive body. The illuminator includes at least one light source configured to generate light and a light guide configured to guide the light received from the light source toward the photosensitive body. The light guide includes at least one incidence face and an emission face. The at least one incidence face faces the light source in a main scanning direction to receive the light from the light source into the light guide. The light exits from the light guide through the emission face toward the photosensitive body. The emission face includes a diffusion pattern having a plurality of semi-cylindrical structures along a width direction of the light guide. A radius of curvature of the semi-cylindrical structures increases away from the at least one light source. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079438 | Volumetric Toner Cartridge Having Driven Toner Platform - A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus having a housing including two opposed end walls and an elongated body therebetween and an exit port. An inner surface of the body defines a toner reservoir that is communication with the exit port. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing. A toner platform is provided in slidable contact with the inner surface of the body and is nonrotatable relative to the housing. A drive shaft coupling couples the toner platform to the drive shaft. An exit paddle is positioned adjacent the exit port and is rotatable by the drive shaft. Rotation of the drive shaft translates the toner platform toward the exit port and rotates the exit paddle. As the toner platform moves, toner within the reservoir moves toward the exit paddle and exit port and rotation of the exit paddle moves toner through the exit port. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079439 | Volumetric Toner Cartridge Having Driven Detachable Toner Platform - A toner cartridge for an imaging apparatus having a housing including two opposed end walls and an elongated body therebetween and an exit port. An inner surface of the body defines a toner reservoir that is in communication with the exit port. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing. A translatable toner platform is provided in slidable contact with the inner surface of the body and is nonrotatable relative to the housing. A toner platform stop is also provided. A detachable drive shaft coupling couples the toner platform to the drive shaft and upon the toner platform hitting the stop, the coupling detaches from the platform. The detachable coupling may be provided in a frangible portion of the toner platform or be frictionally engaged with a recess therein. Rotation of the drive shaft translates the toner platform toward the exit port and rotates an exit paddle. | 2014-03-20 |
20140079440 | Volumetric Toner Cartridge Having Removable Exit Paddle - A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic device including a housing having a reservoir that is in fluid communication with an exit port. A first end wall has a recess on an inner surface thereof in fluid communication with the reservoir and the exit port. A partially threaded drive shaft has an end received in the second end wall. An exit paddle having a drive hub is detachably mounted on the drive shaft near an unthreaded portion. Arms on the drive hub are received in the recess. A drive hub axial extension is received in the first end wall. The housing rotatably supports the drive shaft and exit paddle. A translatable toner platform rotatably connects to the drive shaft. When the drive shaft rotates the toner platform translates for moving toner toward the exit port and rotates the exit paddle for delivering toner from the exit port. | 2014-03-20 |