37th week of 2008 patent applcation highlights part 35 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20080219606 | Tapered roller bearing - A tapered roller bearing includes: an oil guide member that opens and closes an annular opening between an outer peripheral surface of a large rib of an inner ring and an outer ring and is mounted on the large rib; and a discharge port that discharges, along the outer peripheral surface of the large rib, lubricating oil and is formed through an inner peripheral portion of the oil guide member. The oil guide member includes a closing portion for closing the annular opening. When a fluid pressure of the lubricating oil which flows through pockets of a cage toward an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring is below a predetermined values, the closing portion closes the annular opening and guides the lubricating oil toward the discharge port. When the fluid pressure exceeds the predetermined value, the closing portion opens the annular opening. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219607 | Resin wound component - A resin wound component is configured such that a ring-shaped resin portion is integrally formed with an outer circumference of a ring-shaped metal member by a film gate. The resin portion includes a ring-shaped surrounding portion for surrounding axial end surfaces of outer circumferential edges of the ring-shaped metal member. At this time, the thickness of a ring-shaped surrounding portion on the gate side is configured to be larger than that of a ring-shaped surrounding portion on an opposite side to the gate. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219608 | Bearing apparatus for axle and method of manufacturing the same - A body part of a rotation detecting sensor of a rotation number detector which is provided on a bearing apparatus for an axle has a large diameter part formed in its upper part and a small diameter part formed in its lower part, and at the same time, a sensor fitting hole part which is formed in an outer ring of a bearing part and into which the body part of the rotation detecting sensor is inserted is so formed that an radially outer part thereof has an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the large diameter part of the body part, and a lower part thereof has an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the small diameter part of the body part. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219609 | Bicycle treadle bearing assembly - A bicycle treadle bearing assembly comprises a seat being a concave receiving portion at an upper portion thereof; a lower portion of the seat being a thread portion; a bearing; a periphery of the bearing being formed with a plurality of axially arranged rolling posts each of which is rotatably axially; a supporting casing arranged around the bearing; an inner surface of the supporting casing being corresponding to that of an outer surface of the bearing. In assembly, the supporting casing encloses the bearing therein and then the supporting casing and the bearing are placed into the receiving portion. The bearing has a tapered outer surface and an inner surface of the supporting casing is a tapered surface corresponding to the outer surface of the bearing. A cover is installed upon the supporting casing and the bearing so as to seal the bearing and the supporting casing therein. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219610 | Waterproof Grease Composition and Wheel-Supporting Roller Bearing - The waterproof grease composition of the present application comprises a base oil that comprises at least one of mineral oil and synthetic oil and having a kinematic viscosity of from 10 to 400 mm | 2008-09-11 |
20080219611 | Cage for Radial Needle Bearing, Method for Manufacturing the Same and Radial Needle Bearing - A cage element | 2008-09-11 |
20080219612 | Shielded bearing and method - A method and system for shielding bearings from foreign materials such as soil, weeds, plant residue and moisture during the operation of farm equipment. A rotating bearing shield for a bearing includes a cover member having a first end shaped to match the external shape of a bearing housing, including a means for coupling said cover member with an inner race of said bearing and a means for accepting an axle there through. The rotating bearing shield can be pressed onto the inner race of the bearing assembly to form a shielded bearing assembly. Additionally, the shield can be sized to maintain an appropriate press-fit that does not compress the inner race beyond an acceptable inside diameter. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219613 | BEARING HOUSING - A bearing housing is disclosed herein. The bearing housing includes a chamber with out-take for oil scavenging. The out-take extends across a chordal arc of the chamber. A portion of an outer wall adjacent to the out-take has a spiral divergence. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219614 | SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL MOTULATOR - Semiconductor optical modulator devices exhibiting improved chirp characteristics are constructed from a Mach-Zehnder structure having resonators positioned within each arm and a number of phases shifters positioned within the arms, and/or resonators. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219615 | Photonic crystal sensors with intergrated fluid containment structure - Photonic crystal (PC) sensors, and sensor arrays and sensing systems incorporating PC sensors are described which have integrated fluid containment and/or fluid handling structures. Sensors and sensing systems of the present disclosure are capable of high throughput sensing of analytes in fluid samples, bulk refractive index detection, and label-free detection of a range of molecules, including biomolecules and therapeutic candidates. The present disclosure also provides a commercially attractive fabrication platform for making photonic crystal sensors and systems wherein an integrated fluid containment structure and a photonic crystal structure are fabricated in a single molding or imprinting processing step amendable to high throughput processing. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219616 | All Polymer Optical Waveguide Sensor - The present invention is directed to an evanescent field induced optical sensor of a transparent polymer substrate coated with a thin transparent polymer waveguide for use as biosensor for detecting biological molecules, wherein the transparent polymer waveguide has a thickness of ≧0.10 μm and ≦0.50 μm and a refractive index n | 2008-09-11 |
20080219617 | Plastic Optical Sensor - An optical fiber sensor comprising a housing having a cavity defined therein; at least two plastic optical fibers disposed such that cleaved ends of the respective fibers are located opposite each other within the cavity; a light source coupled to one of the fibers; and a detector coupled to the other fiber. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219618 | METHODS OF MAKING AND OPERATING A FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEVICE - In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the invention provides a multi-parameter fiber optic sensing system with an aperiodic sapphire fiber grating as sensing element for simultaneous temperature, strain, NO | 2008-09-11 |
20080219619 | FIBER LENS ASSEMBLY FOR OPTICAL DEVICE - A fiber lens assembly is configured to optically couple an optical fiber to a signal processing device having free-space optical elements. The fiber lens assembly includes a diverging lens having a focal length that may be around 2 to 6 times the diameter of the optical fiber core. Sensitivity of the fiber lens assembly to angular misalignment and positional displacement is reduced by coupling the optical fiber to the signal processing device using a diverging lens rather than a collimating lens, and by configuring the diverging lens with a suitable focal length. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219620 | Achieving Gaussian Outputs from Large-Mode-Area-Higher-Order Mode Fibers - A mode conversion technique to convert higher-order-mode into a nearly fundamental Gaussian shape by using a beam expander is developed and is particularly useful in high-power lasers and amplifiers. By using a beam expander between a transmitted fiber and a conventional mode conversion system, the strict lateral tolerance requirement can be overcome with high conversion efficiency. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219621 | Point-To-Point Optical Fibre Link - Point-to-point link for the transmission of digital signals includes two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses and an optical cable including at least one optical fiber having two terminal portions, each opto-electronic conversion apparatus including an opto-electronic device optically coupled to a respective terminal portion between the two terminal portions of the at least one optical fiber, wherein at least one of the two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses is adapted to keep the respective terminal portion of the optical fiber in bent position with a bending radius R, where 1.5 mm≦R≦2.5 mm, and to keep the respective opto-electronic device optically coupled to the bent terminal portion in order to allow the transmission of the digital signals between the optical fiber and the at least one of the two opto-electronic conversion apparatuses; and at least the bent terminal portion of the at least one optical fiber is such as to satisfy the following relationship r/R<0.07*n/(35+n), where n is the stress corrosion susceptibility factor and r is the radius of the cladding of the optical fiber. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219622 | OPTICAL FIBRE COUPLING SYSTEM - An optical fibre coupling structure comprising an optical fibre having an elongate input surface and shaped so that the diameter of the core of the fibre reduces in one dimension away from the input while increasing in the other dimension away from the input to form respective convergent and divergent surfaces, towards an output which is more circular than the input. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219623 | Star coupler for optical networks, in particular for optical data buses in motor vehicles - In order to achieve an increased reliability in respect of failure in optical networks, the invention provides a passive star coupler comprising a multiplicity of at least three optical waveguides as arms of the star coupler, which are combined at one end, and comprising, adjacent to the combined end, a reflective light mixer in the form of a common individual optical waveguide section with a light reflector, which reflects light which is guided through one of the optical waveguides and passes through the adjacent common individual optical waveguide section back into the common individual optical waveguide section, such that the light is split between the individual optical waveguides and is forwarded through the latter. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219624 | FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR WITH DOUBLE-CLAD STUB FIBER - A fiber optic connector having a double-clad specialty optical stub fiber with a deep index core-to-inner-cladding profile and a raised index outer-cladding profile. The double-clad optical stub fiber abuts against a single-clad field optical fiber of the single-mode type to form an interface across which the primary mode traverses without significantly interfering with higher-order modes. The ratio of the radius of the inner cladding to the radius of the core of the stub fiber is less than 6.5:1. The index profile of the refractive index of the inner cladding is deep relative to the refractive index of the core to confine the primary mode within the core. The raised refractive index of the outer-cladding pulls the higher-order modes deeper into that region, reducing interference with the primary mode. The respective core diameters of the field and stub fibers are matched to avoid mode-field diameter mismatch. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219625 | Methods And Devices For Tracing Fiber Optic Cable - Exemplary embodiments include a tracing clip for a fiber optic cable including: a clip body including an inner and an outer surface; a metal clip disposed on the outer surface; a metal tooth disposed on the inner surface, wherein the metal clip tooth connects to a metal element extending substantially axially along the entire length of fiber optic cable and to the metal clip. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219626 | Expanded beam connector and expanded beam optoelectronic device - The fiber optic connector includes a housing, a first lens, a second lens, a first ferrule, a second ferrule, a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, an o-ring, and a clip. The housing includes a collar, a mounting portion, and a groove formed in the mounting portion. The first and second lenses, and the first and second ferrules are attached to the housing. The first and second optical fibers are attached to the first and second ferrules, respectively. The first and second lenses are in optical communication with the first and second optical fibers, respectively. The o-ring is attached to the collar. The clip is mounted to the groove formed in the mounting portion of the housing. The fiber optic connector is mountable to a back-plane of a host device. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219627 | Fiber optic cable with enhanced saltwater performance - A fiber optic cable can inhibit water, that may inadvertently enter the cable, from damaging the cable's optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can comprise a buffer tube defining an interior volume extending along the fiber optic cable. Optical fibers can be disposed in the interior volume of the buffer tube, along with water-swellable materials, such as tapes and yarns. The interior volume can be dry or free from water-blocking gels or fluids. The water-swellable materials can provide the fiber optic cable with an unexpected level of protection from seawater. The water-swellable materials can, for example, limit flow of seawater along the interior volume. In an exemplary embodiment, progression of seawater in the interior volume be limited to three meters or less for a twenty four hour test period during which the seawater is under about one meter of head pressure. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219628 | Photonic Funnels and Anisotropic Waveguides for Subdiffraction Light Compression and Pulse Management at the Nanoscale - The present invention provides an apparatus for propagating electromagnetic radiation of a selected vacuum wavelength beyond the diffraction limit. The apparatus comprises a waveguide core and a cladding disposed about the core. The waveguide core may include a material with an anisotropic dielectric permittivity, with the optical axis of the material primarily aligned with direction of light propagation. In addition, the waveguide core may have a cross-sectional dimension smaller than about ½ of the selected wavelength at least at one portion of the waveguide core. The cross-sectional dimension of the waveguide core may decrease along the length of the waveguide core creating a taper to provide a photonic funnel. The waveguide core may comprise a homogeneous anisotropic material, anisotropic metamaterial, or a photonic crystal. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219629 | MODIFIED-OUTPUT FIBER OPTIC TIPS - A laser handpiece is disclosed, including a shaped fiber optic tip having a side-firing output end with a non-cylindrical shape. The shaped fiber optic tip can be configured to side-fire laser energy in a direction away from a laser handpiece and toward sidewalls of a treatment or target site. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219630 | Radius limiter and arrangement - A cable radius limiter having a radius limiting surface that prevents damage to cables due to excessive bending. The cable radius limiter includes mounting structure and cable retaining structure arranged such that the limiter can be operably oriented and mounted to a planar mounting surface in a number of mounting orientations. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219631 | Universal bracket for mounting a drop terminal - The present disclosure relates to a drop terminal mounting system for use in a fiber optic network. The drop terminal mounting system includes a drop terminal having a drop terminal housing to which a plurality of fiber optic adapters are mounted. The fiber optic adapters have exterior ports that are accessible from an exterior of the drop terminal housing. The drop terminal mounting system also includes a bracket including a base portion, having a front side and a back side, a cradle disposed on the front side for receiving the drop terminal, and an channel disposed on the back side of the base portion. The bracket has features that facilitate mounting the bracket to different types of structures such as poles, strands, or to hand-holes. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219632 | Telecommunication rack unit tray - An interface panel that mounts to a telecommunications rack. The interface panel including a splicing arrangement and a splitter module. The interface panel further including a fixed tray to which each of the splicing arrangement and the splitter module mounts. The splicing arrangement and the splitter module each having a sliding mounting arrangement that provides access to the functional splicing and splitting components. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219633 | Wall mount distribution arrangement - A wall-mount distribution arrangement including a termination arrangement, a splicing arrangement, and a splitter arrangement. Each of the termination, splicing, and splitter arrangements being located within an interior of a wall-mount enclosure of the distribution arrangement. The arrangement further including a pivoting panel located within the interior of the wall-mount enclosure. The termination arrangement being mounted to a first side of the panel, one of the other of the splicing arrangement and the splitter arrangement being mounted to a second side of the panel. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219634 | High density optical fiber distribution frame with modules - A fiber optic telecommunications frame is provided including termination modules positioned on left and right sides of the frame. The frame further includes left and right vertical cable guides. The frame includes a horizontal passage linking the left and right panels and the cable guides. The termination modules hold fiber optic modules with front termination locations. The fiber optic modules can house couplers, such as splitters, combiners, and wave length division multiplexers. A retention mechanism retains each fiber optic module in a partially removed position from the termination module. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219635 | Curable Liquid Resin Optical Fiber Upjacket Composition - The present invention provides a curable liquid resin composition which, when cured, exhibits excellent removability from an adjacent coating layer and is suitable for an optical fiber upjacket material. The curable liquid resin optical fiber upjacket composition comprising a urethane (meth)acrylate or a (meth)acrylate oligomer, a reactive diluent, a polymerization initiator, and a polyol compound having a molecular weight of 1500 or more. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219636 | Authoring Audiovisual Content - Aspects and embodiments of the present invention relate to an authoring system for authoring an audiovisual production, for example for storage on a DVD-Video disc. The audiovisual production typically comprises audiovisual context and accompanying captions and the authoring system typically comprises: a first data store for storing audiovisual assets; a second data store for storing raw caption data; means for generating caption assets, using the raw caption data, and storing the caption assets in a third data store; and, means for generating the audiovisual production, using at least the audiovisual assets and the caption assets, and storing the audiovisual production in a fourth data store. Certain embodiments of the present invention find particular application in the field of DVD authoring including subtitle authoring and subtitle localisation. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219637 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING A SECONDARY AUDIO TRACK TO THE AUDIO TRACK OF A VIDEO SOURCE - Synchronizes a secondary audio track to a video. Analyzes the audio track of a video using audio frequency analysis or spectrograms to find distinct audio events from which to ensure synchronization of a secondary audio track. For example, commentary that mocks a character may be played immediately after a particular noise in the audio track of a video occurs such as a door slam. Keeping the secondary audio track in synch with the audio track of a video is performed by periodically searching for distinct audio events in the audio track of a video and adjusting the timing of the secondary audio track. May utilize a sound card on a computer to both analyze a DVD sound track and play and adjust timing of the secondary audio track to maintain synchronization. Secondary audio tracks may be purchased and/or downloaded and utilized to add humorous external commentary to a DVD for example. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219638 | Method and system for dynamic control of digital media content playback and advertisement delivery - An approach provides control of digital media. A stream of digital media that includes an advertisement is received. The stream is selectively skipped to avoid the advertisement. In addition, the amount of advertisement played back is tracked. Further, tracking information is generated based on the tracking. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219639 | VIDEO PLAYER, VIDEO PLAYBACK METHOD, AND CONTROL TARGET APPARATUS - A video player reads, from a recording medium storing video data and control data, the control data which includes a plurality of operation control methods for a control target apparatus, each operation control method being set for one of a plurality of playback controls including a normal playback control and a special playback control, detects one of the playback controls which is requires, to obtain a detected playback control, plays back the video data in the recording medium in accordance with a playback control method corresponding to the detected playback control, and controls operation of the control target apparatus in accordance with one of the operation control methods in the control data which corresponds to the detected playback control. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219640 | VIDEO SERVER, VIDEO EDITING SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING VIDEO DATA OF THE VIDEO SERVER - In a video server, rate information showing a bit rate in encoding input video data from a recording line is stores on a recording medium together with encoded data, and a reproduction speed is controlled in accordance with the rate information so that the higher the bit rate is in preview-reproducing, the lower the reproduction speed becomes. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219641 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING A SECONDARY AUDIO TRACK TO THE AUDIO TRACK OF A VIDEO SOURCE - Synchronizes a secondary audio track to a video. Analyzes at least one track of a video using audio frequency analysis or spectrograms, image analysis or text analysis to find distinct audio/image/caption events from which to ensure synchronization of a secondary audio track. For example, commentary that mocks a character may be played immediately after a particular noise in the audio track of a video occurs such as a door slam. Keeping the secondary audio track in synch with the audio track of a video is performed by periodically searching for distinct events in a track of a video and adjusting the timing of the secondary audio track. May utilize a sound card on a computer to both analyze a DVD sound track and play and adjust timing of the secondary audio track to maintain synchronization. Secondary audio tracks may be purchased and/or downloaded and utilized to add humorous external commentary to a DVD for example. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219642 | Collapsible Fluid Containment Device With Semi-Rigid Support Members - A collapsible fluid containment bag for irrigating and cleaning wounds on extremities having semi-rigid support members and an elevated lower support member attached to the bottom of the proximal end of the containment bag creating a gradient for allowing irrigation fluids and biological tissue to drain to the distal end of the bag for removal. The containment bag is collapsible, making it a convenient size for storage, transport, and disposal. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219643 | METHOD TO CONTROL THE ACCESS TO CONDITIONAL ACCESS AUDIO/VIDEO CONTENT - The present invention aims at solving the financial revenue loss due to the presence of digital video recorders that allow skipping the commercial breaks. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219644 | AUDIO/VIDEO INFORMATION RECORDING/REPRODUCING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR - An audio/video information recording/reproducing device capable of easily implementing a post-recording function on an optical disk by using even a low-cost disk drive having a comparatively low-speed seek time. When recording a video file, it is recorded on an optical disk continuously for a duration equivalent to more than three times a seek time. When recording dubbing audio, it is recorded continuously only with constant data size at the same time with the reproducing of the recorded video file, thereby enabling concurrent real-time continuous reproducing and recording. Accordingly, concurrent reproductions of a video file and an audio file are ensured when reproducing dubbing audio. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219645 | Reproducing Apparatus - Provided is a reproducing apparatus for correctly reproducing analog video signals on a display apparatus. The reproducing apparatus includes a reproducing part ( | 2008-09-11 |
20080219646 | IMAGE PLAYBACK DEVICE AND METHOD AND ELECTRONIC CAMERA WITH IMAGE PLAYBACK FUNCTION - An image playback device, which may be part of an electronic camera, reads out recorded information that has been recorded on a recording medium. A time period discriminator receives the recorded information read out by the image playback device and discriminates periods of time during which recorded information agrees with certain pre-set conditions. Moving-picture image information contained in the recorded information is played back and displayed in accordance with results of the discrimination. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219647 | Digital video recording device ticker playback system and method - The present invention is a system and method of controlling the playback of the event stream information of a particular television channel by a digital video recorder (DVR). The DVR is a computer system configured with a hard drive and video decoder/encoder devices. The hardware environment of DVR ( | 2008-09-11 |
20080219648 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE ROTATING SPEED OF A BLDC MOTOR - A circuit and a method for controlling the rotating speed of a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor are provided, whose goal is solving the stall problem encountered by conventional BLDC motors driven by pulse width modulation (PWM). The circuit includes a closed-loop control mechanism for adjusting the duty cycle of the motor current of the BLDC motor, thus controlling the rotating speed of the motor. The closed-loop control is based on the comparison of a signal proportional to the actual rotating speed and another signal proportional to the predetermined target rotating speed. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219649 | MOTOR DRIVE DEVICE AND ELECTRIC APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A motor drive device of the present invention includes: an output circuit provided with a switch element connected to a motor; a PWM signal generating circuit for generating a PWM signal having a duty corresponding to a ratio between a power supply voltage applied to the motor and a predetermined control voltage; a control circuit for performing on/off control of the switch element according to the PWM signal; and a control voltage generating circuit for generating the control voltage such that the back electromotive voltage of the motor is maintained at a desired value. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219650 | HEATING DEVICE OF THE LIGHT IRRADIATION TYPE - A heating device of the light irradiation type having an article to be heated, a guard ring located on the periphery of that article, multiple lamps located above the article to be heated and the guard ring, and a reflecting mirror located above the lamps, in which a light diffusion part is located in the upper region corresponding to the article to be heated so that the diffused light projects onto the entire surface of the article to be heated. The light diffusion part can be formed, for example, on a reflecting mirror, an optically transparent window part located between the article to be heated and the lamps or a light diffusion area formed on the light-emitting bulbs of the lamps. The size of the region occupied by the light diffusion part is such that diffused light is not projected to the guard ring. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219651 | Thermal Storage Medium - A heat storage medium has a solid heat storage area and a plurality of channels extending through the heat storage area between an inlet and an outlet. In one embodiment, there are electric heaters embedded in the heat storage area. A fluid flows through the channels to add or remove heat from the heat storage medium. A method of operating the heat storage medium is described. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219652 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ILLUMINATION AND PHOTOGRAPHIC CAPTURE OF A SUBJECT - A system and apparatus for illumination and photographic capture of a subject includes a base, a linear drive unit carried on the base, a light bar configured to produce a band of illumination and connected to the drive unit, and system controls operatively connected to the drive unit and light bar to achieve controlled linear movement of the light bar and progressive illumination of the subject with the band of light. A method for illumination and photographic capture of the subject includes establishing a band of light projecting across one direction of the subject, powering the band of light at a controlled speed through a second direction to progressively illuminate the subject; and making a photographic exposure of the subject with a camera while progressively illuminating the subject with said band of light. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219653 | Vibration reduction unit, lens barrel and camera - To provide a compact vibration reduction unit, a lens barrel, and a camera, which can perform positional detection with a high degree of accuracy during operations for vibration reduction. A vibration reduction unit of the present invention is comprising: a shooting optical system; a movable optical member that is part of the shooting optical system or which is another member, and which is provided movably relative to the shooting optical system; a magnetic sensor used to detect a position of the movable optical member; and a coil having a winding center line of a winding wire situated substantially in parallel with and on substantially the same plane as a given plane in which the magnetic sensor is disposed. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219654 | CAMERA USING MULTIPLE LENSES AND IMAGE SENSORS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED FOCUSING CAPABILITY - An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes: (a) a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output; a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor; and a first lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a first focus detection signal; and (b) a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output; a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor; and a second lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the second lens responsive to a second focus detection signal. A processing stage either (a) selects the sensor output from the first imaging stage as the captured image signal and uses the sensor output from the second imaging stage to generate the first focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage, or (b) selects the sensor output from the second imaging stage as the captured image signal and uses the sensor output from the first imaging stage to generate the second focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219655 | AUTOFOCUS METHOD FOR A CAMERA - An autofocus method and apparatus provides a reduction in time required for performing the autofocusing procedure, preferably occurring during a one-time frame exposure. A distance between a focus of a lens system and a light receiving plane of an image sensor is varied, an image frame is formed by sequentially exposing pixels on the light receiving plane during a time period while varying the distance between the focus and the light receiving plane, a plurality of sub-blocks are set on the image frame and edge values are obtained for the respective plurality of sub-blocks. The maximum edge value is determined from among the obtained edge values, and a focus position of the lens system is identified based on the maximum edge value. The lens system is moved to the focus position. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219656 | Camera System With Auxiliary Viewfinder - Camera systems and methods for implementing an auxiliary viewfinder are disclosed. An exemplary method may comprise providing a connection on a body of an electronic device for optionally attaching an auxiliary viewfinder. The method may also comprise positioning the auxiliary viewfinder when the auxiliary viewfinder is connected to the body of the electronic device so that a field-of-view for the auxiliary viewfinder is substantially the same as a field-of-view for an onboard lens. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219657 | Portable Electronic Apparatus - A portable electronic apparatus includes an exterior member which has an opening and houses a main body. A part of the main body is exposed through the opening. The apparatus also includes a lid which is attached to the exterior member so as to cover or uncover the opening; and a strap attaching part provided on an area of the part of the main body. The area is covered with the lid, and a strap with a small loop is attachable to the strap attaching part. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219658 | Real time transmission of photographic images from portable handheld devices - In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for effectively performing a streamlined photo distribution procedure is disclosed. A source device initially captures a photographic image of a target or subject using known techniques. The term “photographic image” as used herein is not limited to single photographs but includes moving pictures, video images and any other known or future means of capturing an image of an event. The source device is likewise broadly defined and includes, but is not limited to, digital cameras, video cameras, cell phones with digital photo capture means, computers, including PDA's or other devices or combination of devices with communication and photo capture means, as well as other image capture means. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219659 | BATTERY PACK FOR A CAMERA - A battery pack for a camera includes a main housing for containing one or more batteries. An adaptor electrically connected to the one or more batteries protrudes from the main housing and is configured for electrical engagement with a camera supported on the main housing. The battery pack optionally includes one or more of the following: a display screen on the main housing for displaying system functions or images and videos captured by the camera; a wireless transmission device in the main housing for transmitting images captured by the camera to a remote receiver; one or more memory unit housings in the main housing for receiving one or more memory units. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219660 | Communicating Information - The present invention relates to the communication of information where the information is introduced at a plurality of spaced apart locations onto an optical waveguide. The following steps are performed: (i) transmitting test signals onto the waveguide, components of the test signals being returned in a distributed manner along the waveguide; (ii) receiving first component signals returned from beyond a first location at which information is introduced; (iii) receiving second component signals returned from beyond a second location at which information is introduced, the second component signals being returned through the first location; and, (iv) processing the second component signals using the first component signals to distinguish information introduced at the second location from information introduced at the first location. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219661 | Digital cros-connect - A digital cross-connect (DXC) ( | 2008-09-11 |
20080219662 | Monolithically Integrated Reconfigurable Optical Add-Drop Multiplexer - A reconfigurable optical add-drop mulitplexer comprises a first waveguide layer having formed therein a first multiplexer-demultiplexer, a second multiplexer-demultiplexer, and a plurality of optical switches. The reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer further comprises a second waveguide layer optically coupled to the first waveguide and having a second effective index of refraction, said second waveguide layer having an optical amplifier formed therein. An input signal is amplified by the optical amplifier and communicated to the first optical multiplexer-demultiplexer where the signal is demultiplexed into a plurality individual wavelength signals. The second optical multiplexer-demultiplexer is adapted to receive a multiplexed add signal and to demultiplex the add signal into component wavelength signals. The individual wavelength signals are received at the optical switches and selectively routed to either an optical detector or toward the first multiplexer-demultiplexer. The individual wavelength signals received at the first multiplexer-demultiplexer are multiplexed into an output signal. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219663 | OPTICAL DEVICE WITH CASCADED STEERING DEVICES - An optical switching device for wavelength divisional multiplexed signals uses cascaded arrays of optical steering devices for 1×N routing of WDM optical signals, where N=4, 8, 16, etc. Two cascaded arrays provide 1×4 switching; three cascaded arrays provide 1×8 switching; and so on. Each array is configured with independently controlled optical steering devices so that each wavelength channel of the WDM signal may be routed to any of N output ports. The optical steering devices may be micro-mirrors, liquid crystal-based polarization modulators, or a combination of both. By incorporating cascaded optical steering devices into a single WDM switching device, cost effective 1×N switching of WDM optical signals may be realized. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219664 | Method and System for Controlling Optical Network - A technique is described for controlling and optical network composed of network elements (NEs), with the aid of a network controller (NC) being in communication with the network elements. The technique includes collecting, by the network controller NC, information on the NEs therefrom, and, whenever a change in the network is requested, simulating within the NC operation of the network with the requested change and based on the collected information. The NC makes a decision on acceptability of the requested change, and may then cause implementation of the requested change in the network. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219665 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND OPTICAL COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD - A common unit that transmits or receives control signals is provided in an optical communication apparatus, and the control signals used in communication include different wavelengths from those of main control signals. In this way, it is possible to simplify the structure of an optical communication apparatus, and reduce the manufacturing costs thereof. An optical communication apparatus includes a plurality of main signal transmitting/receiving units and a control signal transmitting/receiving unit that transmits or receives control signals that are used to control communication in the plurality of main signal transmitting/receiving units using different wavelengths from those of the main signals transmitted/received by the main signal transmitting/receiving units. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219666 | OPTICAL LINE TERMINAL ARRANGEMENT, APPARATUS AND METHODS - A wavelength division multiplexed optical communication system includes a plurality of optical line terminals which may be part of separate in service networks, each having a line interface and an all-optical pass-through interface including a plurality of pass-through optical ports, and each also including a plurality of local optical ports which are connectable to client equipment and an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer for multiplexing/demultiplexing optical wavelengths. The optical multiplexer/demultiplexer may include one or more stages for inputting/outputting individual wavelengths or bands of a predetermined number of wavelengths, or a combination of bands and individual wavelengths. At least one of the pass-through optical ports of an optical line terminal of one network may be connected to at least one of the pass-through optical ports of an optical line terminal of another network to form an optical path from the line interface of the optical line terminal of the one network to the line interface of the optical line terminal of the another network to form a merged network. The use of such optical line terminals allows the upgrading and merging of the separate networks while in service. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219667 | OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND DISPERSION-COMPENSATING OPTICAL FIBER - With this scheme, there is provided an optical communication system and a dispersion-compensating optical fiber with which a long-haul optical signal transmission is possible by making use of the low optical nonlinearity and the low transmission loss characteristic of the photonic bandgap optical fiber. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219668 | LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICAL DEVICE WITH ARRAYED WAVEGUIDE GRATING - An optical device that processes a wavelength divisional multiplexed (WDM) optical signal includes an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) and a polarizing liquid crystal array. The AWG demultiplexes and/or multiplexes the wavelength channels of the WDM signal. The liquid crystal array modulates the polarization state of individual wavelength channels so that each wavelength channel may be routed along an optical path based on the polarization state of the light. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219669 | SDH/SONET Convergent Network - An apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising inserting best effort packet (BEP) data into a synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH)/synchronous optical network (SONET) frame without encapsulating or reframing the BEP data. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising a SDH/SONET framer, and a multiplexer coupled to the SDH/SONET framer, wherein the multiplexer is configured to receive native-form BEP data. Included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising receiving time division multiplexed (TDM) data, receiving BEP data, switching the TDM data using a TDM switch fabric, switching the BEP data using a packet switch fabric, and transmitting at least some of the TDM data and the BEP data over a single interface without encapsulating the BEP data. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219670 | RoF system providing HD wireless communication service and signal control method for the same - Disclosed is an RoF system providing an HD wireless communication service. The RoF system includes the base station for transmitting and receiving each of the TDD/FDD individual signals and TDD/FDD combined signals, channel-combining downstream signals for a TDD scheme with downstream signals for an FDD scheme, and generating TDD/FDD mode control signals; a base station donor for receiving downstream RF signals from the base station, converting the resultant signals into downstream optical signals, outputting the converted signals, and delivering upstream optical signals, which are input to the remote station from the wireless terminals, to the base station; and the remote station for switching a corresponding duplexing mode operation according to wireless service channel states of the wireless terminals, converting the downstream optical signals transmitted from the base station donor into service RF signals, amplifying the converted service RF signals, and providing the amplified service RF signals to the wireless terminals through antennas. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219671 | Indirect Optical Free-Space Communications System and Method for the Broadband Transmission of Hight-Speed Data - An indirect optical free-space communications system provides broadband transmission of high-speed data in in transportation vehicles such as aircraft. The system includes a transmitter with a light source that can be modulated and a receiver with a photo detector, adapted to receive light that is emitted from the transmitter and to convert it into an electric signal. The transmitter and the receiver are directed onto at least one common surface, which reflects the light emitted from the transmitter before it reaches the receiver. The free space communications system is cellular and includes several cells, each of which has a transmitter and at least one corresponding receiver. The cells are configured in such a way that crosstalk with a respective adjoining cell is prevented. The cells are thus independent of one another. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219672 | INTEGRATED INFRARED RECEIVER AND EMITTER FOR MULTIPLE FUNCTIONALITIES - Apparatuses and methods to detect and emit various infrared (IR) and ambient light signals using an integrated sensor and emitter device. Embodiments include a sensor to sense proximity, to sense IR data signals, and to sense ambient light; and an emitter of an IR proximity signal. The sensor detects the IR proximity signal from the emitter when the apparatus is sensing proximity, detects IR data signals when the apparatus is detecting IR data, and detects ambient light when the apparatus sensing light. The IR data signals may include IR remote control (IR RC) and/or IR data association (IRDA) signals. The signals may be detected simultaneously and may be in different frequency bands. According to embodiments, such an emitter may also emit an IR data signals, such as IR RC and/or IRDA signals. These signals may be emitted simultaneously and may be in different frequency bands. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219673 | Optical Transceiver with Reduced Height - A transceiver having a light source die, a photodetector die and a substrate is disclosed. The substrate has a first well in which the light source die is mounted and a second well in which the photodetector die is mounted. The substrate has a reflective surface which blocks light leaving the light source from reaching the photodetector unless the light is reflected by an object external to the transceiver. The reflecting surface of the second well in the substrate is shaped to concentrate light received from outside the transceiver onto the photodetector, and in one aspect of the invention it comprises a non-imaging optical element. The light source is powered by applying a potential between first and second contacts on the light source die. A signal is generated between first and second contacts on the photodetector die in response to illumination of the photodetector die. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219674 | OPTICAL SPACE TRANSMISSION DEVICE INCLUDING ROTATABLE MEMBER - An optical space transmission device includes: a first portion; and a second portion which is rotatably connected to the first portion and performs space transmission of signals using light between the first portion and the second portion. The device includes: a first light emitting and receiving module which is provided for the first portion and includes: a first light emitting element composed of a light emitting diode emitting first signal light modulated based on a signal transmitted from the first to second portion; and a first light receiving element receiving second signal light modulated based on a signal transmitted from the second to first portions; and a second light emitting and receiving module which is provided for the second portion and includes: a second light emitting element composed of a semiconductor laser emitting the second signal light; and a second light receiving element receiving the first signal light. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219675 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LIGHT INTENSITY MODULATION AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE SAME - A multilevel light intensity modulation system can generate a multilevel modulated optical signal from a single light source without handling multilevel electrical signals. The light from a light source | 2008-09-11 |
20080219676 | Transmitting device, receiving device, and optical communication method - A receiving device includes a light-receiving unit receiving a light transmitted from a light source, luminance of the light changing corresponding to an information, the light-receiving unit having a plurality of light-receiving elements detecting the light repeatedly at times different from one another, and a decoding unit decoding a light-receiving signal outputted from the light-receiving unit into the information. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219677 | OPTICAL TRANSMITTER - An optical transmitter for carrying out an optical modulation based on a data signal to be transmitted, thereby generating a transmission light signal, includes an optical phase modulating section for carrying out an optical phase modulation over an output light of a light source based on a data signal, an optical pulse modulating section for carrying out an optical pulse modulation over an output light of the optical phase modulating section based on a clock signal and outputting the light as an optical transmission output, an extending section for extending a code transition time of the data signal and applying the data signal to the optical phase modulating section, and a phase control section for modulating a phase shift amount of the data signal or the clock signal with a dither signal and carrying out a synchronous detection over the optical transmission output, and controlling the phase shift amount with a synchronous detection signal. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219678 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPTICAL MODULATOR - A control system for controlling an optical modulator that intensity-modulates input light, the system includes an automatic bias control circuit configured to control an operating point of an optical modulator due to a bias voltage, including (i) a low-frequency signal superimposing unit configured to superimpose a low-frequency signal having a frequency lower than the frequency of a data signal on the data signal; (ii) a photoelectric converter configured to convert an optical signal intensity-modulated with an optical modulator into a voltage signal based on the data signal on which the low-frequency signal is superimposed; (iii) an error voltage detector configured to detect an error voltage corresponding to the low-frequency signal superimposed on the data signal from the voltage signal; and (iv) a bias controller configured to control a bias voltage for applying to the optical modulator based on the error voltage, and an automatic bias control stabilizing circuit configured to stabilize the automatic bias control circuit to control the operating point of the optical modulator based on a direct current voltage extracted from the voltage signal. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219679 | OPTICAL BRANCHING DEVICE - An optical branching device comprises a first lens member comprising a transmitting plane surface, a transmitting convex surface having an approximate center of curvature in the transmitting plane surface, and a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber firmly affixed on the transmitting plane surface of the first lens member. The transmitting convex surface has a wavelength-selective mirror surface that transmits light of a first wavelength and reflects light of a second wavelength. The light of the second wavelength, which is one of the wavelengths of light emitted from the first optical fiber and is reflected and converged by the wavelength-selective mirror surface, enters into the second optical fiber. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219680 | OPTICAL RECEIVING APPARATUS AND BALANCE ADJUSTMENT METHOD - Disclosed is a optical receiving apparatus including a balanced receiver comprising first and second light receiving elements which receive respective optical signals from first and second ports of a 1-bit delay interferometer, monitor units that monitor amplitudes and delays at the first and second light receiving elements, respectively, control units that variably respectively control attenuations and delays on the paths between the first and second output ports of the 1-bit delay interferometer and the first and second light receiving elements, based on monitored results by the monitor units. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219681 | DRIVER SYSTEM OF IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSES AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A driver system of image forming apparatuses whose structure is improved to receive a necessary service without additional confirmation by automatically requesting a management service and to improve the efficiency of use of the image forming apparatuses and a method of controlling the same. The driver system of the image forming apparatuses that is provided in a host computer to connect the host computer to the image forming apparatuses in order to perform a management service includes an input unit to receive state information on the image forming apparatuses from the image forming apparatuses and a transmitting unit to transmit a management service requesting signal to a management service supplying unit using the input state information. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219682 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROLLER, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND IMAGE FORMING CONDITION ADJUSTMENT METHOD - An image forming apparatus is provided with: an image forming unit that forms an image on a medium according an image forming condition; a speed changing unit that changes an image forming speed of the image forming unit between a plurality of image forming speeds including a first image forming speed; an adjusting unit that adjusts the image forming condition set in the image forming unit; a measuring unit that measures an elapsed state after the image forming condition is adjusted for the last time at the first image forming speed in the image forming unit, and outputs a measured value indicative of the elapsed state; and a determination unit that determines, according to the elapsed state, whether or not to adjust the image forming condition before the image forming unit starts forming an image at the first image forming speed. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219683 | DEVELOPER REPLENISHING DEVICE FOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A toner replenishing device that provides a container and a device having a high toner volumetric efficiency and a low cost, suppresses vibration during replenishment to a minimum, and stores recovered toner without impairing the volumetric efficiency of unused toner is constituted by a developer replenishing device which is provided with a developer container storing a developer used in an image forming apparatus and replenishes a developing device of the image forming apparatus with the developer in the developer container. The developer container is rectangular in a horizontal direction, and comprises an outside container storing unused developer and a deformable inside container enveloped by the outside container. The developer replenishing device comprises a developer discharging mouthpiece portion for discharging the developer from the interior of the container, which is provided in a lengthwise direction end portion of the outside container, an air supply nozzle, provided in an opposite side end portion to the developer discharging mouthpiece portion in the lengthwise direction, for introducing air into the inside container, and an air pump for supplying air to the supply nozzle. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219684 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus is provided which is capable of forming higher-quality images by detecting a toner concentration with higher accuracy to attain appropriate toner supply and image density. A value obtained by adding a correction value based on a temperature, humidity, a print coverage, or the like to a developer concentration adjustment value is set as a control voltage value Vc which is to be inputted to a toner concentration sensor, and an output value of the toner concentration sensor is detected for each of process speeds. A difference between the output value detected and a value at reference process speed is calculated and based on the difference, a correction value is further calculated. Such another calculation of the correction value with use of the output value detected allows for highly accurate correction. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219685 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a storing unit configured to store an identification code of an image recording medium and an image forming condition in association with each other, a setting unit configured to set the identification code, and an image forming unit configured to form an image on the basis of the image forming condition associated with the identification code set by the setting unit. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219686 | Image Forming Apparatus - A product of a predetermined time interval and the number of periods is set to be an integer multiple of a time (or agitation period) required for one rotation of an agitation member and also a light receiving state is detected when an interval signal is Hi. Therefore, the number of times that light cannot be received due to the agitation member (or the number of agitation influences) is constant within one period. Since the number of agitation influences is set to the constant number of times in one period and the influence of the agitation member is constant at the remaining developer amount ratio of 1/Light Receiving Ratio, the light receiving ratio appropriately indicating the remaining developer amount can be obtained and the remaining developer amount can be correctly detected. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219687 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image forming apparatus and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes an image input part, a development unit which is supplied with a toner and forms a developer to develop an input image inputted from the image input part, a transfer member to form a patch image, a density sensor which detects density of the patch image, and a toner supply amount control unit which sets a toner supply amount of the development unit according to changed density of the patch image which is detected by the density sensor with a predetermined detecting cycle and applies the set toner supply amount to operation of printing the input image. Accordingly, a cycle of test printing the patch image can be extended to a longer period, unnecessary consumption of the toner is prevented, and the density of the printed image can be maintained stably. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219688 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS WITH REDUCED START-UP TIME - A disclosed image forming apparatus forming a visible image on a recording medium includes: a functional element required for an image forming operation; a first control unit controlling the functional element; an input unit inputting an external instruction; and a second control unit communicating with the first control unit about information on the image, performing a process in accordance with the instruction input via the input unit, and outputting a return signal for starting the functional element required for performing the process in accordance with the instruction. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219689 | SELECTABLE MICR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of generating a printed document from a marking device that includes two or more developer units, where at least one of the developer units contains a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) toner and where at least one other of the developer units contains a non-MICR toner. The method includes receiving a request to print a document where the request to print the document includes information on whether the document is to be printed using MICR toner or non-MICR toner, and printing the document using the unit containing the desired toner. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219690 | Image forming method, image forming system, image forming apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for image forming program - The image forming method for executing the proof printing based on a printing job for printing images on recording sheets including a sheet has a step 1) of selecting an substitutive sheet to be used in place of a tab sheet specified in the printing job, and a step 2) of giving an instruction to print a tab sheet image to be printed on the tab of the tab sheet and an outline image representing at least a portion of the tab sheet, on the substitutive paper selected in the step 1). | 2008-09-11 |
20080219691 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus | 2008-09-11 |
20080219692 | PROCESS CARTRIDGE FOR USE IN IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In an image forming apparatus employing a process cartridge for image forming apparatus which is equipped with a chip including a rewritable non-volatile memory, the non-volatile memory at least includes a read-only region and an arbitrarily rewritable region, a control program for writing data to the read-only region is installed in the arbitrarily rewritable region, and the use of the control program is limited after the completion of the writing of data to the read-only region. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219693 | AERATOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An aerator includes: a ventilating member that is disposed opposedly to a heat generating object, and that allows air to flow through an inside; and an inlet device that takes in air from an outside, and that sends the air to the ventilating member, the ventilating member including: a discharging portion that discharges the air flowing through the ventilating member to the outside; an opening through which heat generated by the heat generating object is taken in the ventilating member; and a restraining portion that restrains the air taken in by the inlet device from flowing to the heat generating object through the opening. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219694 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING METHOD, AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE - An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge have high-durability and stably form high quality images under long-term use without reducing image density even when concentration of discharge products at the surface of an electrophotographic photoconductor becomes uneven in a discharge region of a charging unit. The apparatus employs an image forming method and has a corona discharge type charging unit discharging in a non-contact manner, the photoconductor placed to face the charging unit and the outermost surface layer thereof contains a filler and an amine compound with a specific structure, and an airflow adjusting device which carries air taken from the outside of the apparatus to the vicinity of the charging unit or the photoconductor so that ozone concentration and unevenness thereof are maintained at an average of 30 ppm or less and 15 ppm or less respectively at the surface of the photoconductor in the discharge region. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219695 | OZONE REMOVAL DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR REMOVING OZONE - A color laser printer is provided with a first exhaust duct for exhausting ozone generated by a charging unit etc. inside a housing to the outside of the housing. The first exhaust duct is therein provided with a catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment and an ion emitting unit for emitting negative ions into an atmosphere. Most of an ozone gas component is decomposed and/or absorbed by the catalytic honeycomb filter for ozone gas treatment. Furthermore, the residual ozone gas component is decomposed by the negative ions generated by the ion emitting unit. This arrangement makes it possible to provide a new ozone removal device which is different from an ozone decomposing filter or a heat source. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219696 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a holding member and a supporting member coupled to the holding member. The holding member includes photosensitive drums and is configured to hold toner cartridges disposed in association with the photosensitive drums in a detachable manner and to move between a storage position in which the holding member is accommodated in the apparatus body and a replacement position. The supporting member is configured to support light source arrays in association with the photosensitive drums, to cover the holding member, to move between a retaining position where the light source arrays are positioned relative to the photosensitive drums and a withdrawn position where the light source arrays are withdrawn from the photosensitive drums, and to move to the withdrawn position in a different direction than the direction in which the holding member is moved to the replacement position. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219697 | Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus has a holding member having a plurality of photosensitive drums and configured to hold a plurality of toner cartridges in a detachable manner. The holding member is coupled to an apparatus body in a tiltable manner between a storage position where the holding member is disposed in the apparatus body substantially horizontally and a replacement position where the holding member is raised from the apparatus body substantially vertically. A top cover supports a plurality of light source arrays in association with the photosensitive drums and is coupled to the apparatus body in a tiltable manner between a closed position where the light source arrays are positioned with respect to photosensitive drums and an open position where the light source arrays are withdrawn from the photosensitive drums. The top cover tilts in a different direction from a direction that the holding member tilts. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219698 | LATENT IMAGE CARRIER UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - There is disclosed an image forming apparatus including: a latent image carrier; a latent image writing unit; a development unit; a latent image carrier unit having the latent image carrier; a first positioning protrusion disposed on the latent image carrier unit, the first positioning protrusion being engaged with a groove or a slit of an image forming apparatus body; an abutted portion disposed on the groove or the slit, the abutted portion abutting the first positioning protrusion in order to position the latent image carrier unit in an installation and removal direction; and a second positioning protrusion shifted in the installation and removal direction and disposed on the latent image carrier unit, the second positioning protrusion positioning the latent image carrier unit at a position different from a position of the first positioning protrusion in order to engage the groove or the slit. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219699 | DEVELOPMENT DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING SAME - The development device of the present invention has a rotating shutter supported rotatably between a supply opening formed on a toner supply device and a receiving opening formed on a developing tank. The rotating shutter has an open section extending in the axial direction of the roller-shaped main section as well as opened in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction thereof, opening and shutting the supply opening in conjunction with attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank. The rotating shutter shuts the supply opening by covering the supply opening with the outer surface of the roller-shaped main section, and opens the supply opening by communicating the supply opening and the receiving opening through the open section. Thus, it is possible to prevent the leakage of toner even after repetitively performing the attachment and detachment operation of the developing tank. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219700 | UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A unit, which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from a body of an apparatus, includes: a holding portion for holding the unit to attach and detach the unit to and from the apparatus body, the holding portion being projected from a housing of the unit; and a lock mechanism for fixing the unit to the apparatus body, wherein an operating portion of the lock mechanism is operated to retract inside a projection end portion of the holding portion, by an operation of moving the lock mechanism to a lock cancel position. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219701 | SQUAREWAVE CHARGING OF A PHOTORECEPTOR - Charging devices, electrostatic imaging devices, and methods generate a charging waveform having a DC bias component and an AC component for charging the imaging surface of a charge retentive member, the AC component having a substantially squarewave waveform. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219702 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, PROCESS CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image carrier; one or more charging units configured to charge the image carrier in preparation for formation of each of plural latent images corresponding to toner images of different colors; a latent image forming unit configured to expose non-image areas on the charged image carrier to form each of the latent images; and developing units configured to develop the corresponding latent images in sequence with toners of the corresponding colors to form the toner images and thereby to form a color toner image composed of the toner images of the different colors on the image carrier, the toners having polarity opposite to that of the charged image carrier. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219703 | CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, PROCESS CARTRIDGE USING CONDUCTIVE MEMBER, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS USING PROCESS CARTRIDGE - A conductive member includes a conductive supporter, an electric resistance adjusting layer formed on the conductive supporter and gap retaining members which are of a different material from that of the electric resistance adjusting layer and are disposed respectively at both ends of the electric resistance adjusting layer for contacting an image carrier so as to maintain a predetermined gap between the electric resistance adjusting layer and the image carrier, wherein the electric resistance adjusting layer is made from a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin containing an ether group, an organic phosphonium salt and a fluorine-containing organic anion salt. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219704 | Optical writing device and image forming apparatus - An electrophotographic optical writing device equipped with a semiconductor laser includes the semiconductor laser, a collimating lens, an aperture, a cylindrical lens, and a polygon scanner. An additional aperture, a second aperture, is provided in a light path between the semiconductor laser and the collimating lens. | 2008-09-11 |
20080219705 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND LIGHT SCANNING UNIT THEREOF - An image forming apparatus including a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a light scanning unit to scan a light beam onto the photosensitive member so as to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing unit to apply developer onto the photosensitive member formed with the electrostatic latent image, so as to form a visible image, and a transfer unit to transfer the visible image, formed on the photosensitive member, onto a printing surface. The light scanning unit includes a case having a light emitting window to emit a light beam toward the photosensitive member, a light source installed in the case to generate the light beam, a polygon mirror to deflect the light beam generated from the light source toward the light emitting window, a rotor coupled with the polygon mirror to rotate the polygon mirror, a stator fixed to the case and adapted to rotate the rotor via electromagnetic interaction with the rotor, and a stop-position controller to control a stop position of the rotor so that the polygon mirror does not reflect the light beam through the light emitting window when the polygon mirror stops rotating. | 2008-09-11 |