Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080253793 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF EFFICIENT TONER CONCENTRATION CONTROL - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a plurality of toner images on an image carrier, an optical detector configured to detect reflection light from the toner image, and dedicated to detect infrared rays and near-infrared rays, and a controller configured to perform a predetermined control using a detection results of the optical detector. Gradation pattern that is comprised of a plurality of toner patches formed in the image forming unit with an image forming condition to have different adhesive amounts, and is formed of at least two colors, and detection values detected by the optical detector are used for the predetermined control. | 10-16-2008 |
20090110413 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE DENSITY CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus and an image density control method for controlling image density in the image forming apparatus, involving adjusting a toner concentration control reference value in accordance with an amount of the toner replaced in a developing device so as to adjust the image density to maintain a consistent developability and changing image forming intervals in accordance with an amount of the toner replaced in the developing device during continuous printing operation. | 04-30-2009 |
20090202263 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE DENSITY CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus includes a control device that calculates a developing ability of the developing device based on a detection value detected by an optical detection device from the plural toner patches. The control device adjusts an image formation condition based on the calculated developing ability. A factor detection device is provided to detect a contributing factor that causes the developing ability to largely change after the last adjustment of the image formation condition. The control device controls image formation such that when the factor detection device does not detect the contribution factor and a developing ability calculated this time is different from that calculated last time (as to a part of the plural toner patches), the plural toner patches are formed based on a prescribed fixed image formation condition so that an attraction amount of toner attracting to the plural toner patches enter a prescribed range detectable for the optical detection device. The remaining toner patches are formed (based on an image formation condition determined) in accordance with the image formation condition previously adjusted. When the detection device detects the contribution factor, the entire toner patches are formed based on the prescribed fixed condition. | 08-13-2009 |
20090263150 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE QUALITY CORRECTION METHOD USED THEREIN - An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units to form different single-color images with respective different color developers and a control system to selectively perform a multicolor image forming operation, a specific-color image forming operation, a multicolor image quality correction operation, and a specific-color image quality correction operation. The control system includes an image formation mode detection unit to ascertain which of the multicolor image forming operation and the specific-color image forming operation is performed prior to a request for image quality correction; and a correction instruction unit to order the multicolor image quality correction operation when the multicolor image quality correction operation is requested, the specific-color correction operation when the specific-color image quality correction operation is requested after the specific-color image forming operation, and the multicolor image quality correction operation when the specific-color image quality correction operation is requested after the multicolor image forming operation. | 10-22-2009 |
20090279907 | REUSE METHOD AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - In a reuse method for reusing a reusable device and a sensor of a first image forming apparatus having a first process linear velocity in a second image forming apparatus having at least one second process linear velocity different from the first process linear velocity, the reusable device and the sensor are installed in the first image forming apparatus, and when the first image forming apparatus switches from the first process linear velocity to the second process linear velocity at an initial state before the reusable device is used, output of the sensor at the second process linear velocity is measured. When information on the output of the sensor at the second process linear velocity is stored, the reusable device and the sensor are removed from the first image forming apparatus and installed in the second image forming apparatus. | 11-12-2009 |
20090324267 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE-DENSITY CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus forms a plurality of tone patterns of different colors, each of which containing a plurality of toner patches having different toner densities. Some of the toner patches in each of the tone patterns are formed with a predetermined fixed developing bias and the rest of the toner patches in each of the tone patterns are formed with developing biases set based on previous developing biases that have been obtained through a previous control process. The largest toner density of the toner patches in each of the tone patterns is determined based on a magnitude relation of previous index values obtained through the previous control process. | 12-31-2009 |
20100226664 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IMAGE DENSITY THEREIN - An image forming apparatus includes a developer unit to store two-component developer which includes toner and carrier and develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, a toner concentration detector to detect toner concentration in the developer unit, a toner supply unit to supply toner to the developer unit, and a controller to control toner supply amount by controlling the toner supply unit by comparing an output value of the toner concentration detector with a reference value stored in a memory and correcting difference between output values of the toner concentration detector at two or more process linear velocities in accordance with the toner concentration in the developer unit. A compensation amount for correcting difference between output values of the toner concentration detector that differ depending on the process linear velocity is adjustable in accordance with the toner concentration in the development unit. | 09-09-2010 |
20100278549 | IMAGE FOMRING APARATUS AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING CHARGE BIAS - An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an image and a charger to which a direct current voltage overlapped with an AC voltage is applied as a charging bias to charge the image carrier. The charger is positioned in contact or contactlessly with the image carrier. The AC voltage applied to the charger in an adjustment of the AC voltage is not less than twice a charging start voltage Vth at which the image carrier starts to be charged. | 11-04-2010 |
20100328782 | VARIABLE FOCAL LENGTH LENS, CAMERA MODULE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A variable focal length lens includes: a lens portion including a pair of light transmissive members, at least one of which is deformable, and a light transmissive liquid medium sealed between the pair of light transmissive members; and a liquid medium container including a chamber that communicates with the lens portion and is filled with the liquid medium, the liquid medium container causing the shape of the surface of the deformable light transmissive member or members to be changed by changing the volume of the chamber to adjust the amount of liquid medium with which the lens portion is filled. | 12-30-2010 |
20110052239 | OPTICAL SENSOR AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An optical sensor includes: a light-emitting unit; a light-receiving unit that receives light radiated from the light-emitting unit and reflected from a detection target and that outputs an output value in response to the light received; and a correcting unit that corrects the output value of the light-receiving unit when receiving the light reflected from the detection target based on the output value of the light-receiving unit obtained by irradiating a detection area of the optical sensor with light without any light reflective objects being present in the detection area. | 03-03-2011 |
20110176221 | LIQUID LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - In one example embodiment, a liquid lens includes a pair of transparent members and a transparent liquid composed of a silicone oil not having compatibility with the fluorinated elastomeric membrane. In one example embodiment, at least one of the transparent members is a deformable deformation membrane formed of a fluorinated elastomeric membrane. In one example embodiment, the transparent liquid fills an enclosed space sandwiched between the pair of transparent members. | 07-21-2011 |
20110295440 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND POWER STORAGE APPARATUS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - In one example embodiment, a power storage management system includes a user terminal, a power storage apparatus and an information processing apparatus. In one example embodiment, the information processing apparatus is configured to, using a mobile communication network (e.g., Global System for Mobile Communications or the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), communicate with the power storage apparatus. | 12-01-2011 |
20120007565 | CHARGING APPARATUS, AND CHARGE CONTROL METHOD - There is provided a charging apparatus including a connection unit to which a device is to be connected, a charging unit for charging the device connected to the connection unit, a history acquisition unit for acquiring a history of content use stored in the device, a timing prediction unit for predicting a timing of use of the device based on the history of content use acquired by the history acquisition unit, and a charge control unit for controlling the charging unit such that the device connected to the connection unit becomes fully charged at a timing suitable for the timing predicted by the timing prediction unit. | 01-12-2012 |
20120010760 | POWER SYSTEM, POWER RECEIVING APPARATUS, AND POWER TRANSMISSION CONTROL METHOD - There is provided a power system including a power transmitting apparatus and a power receiving apparatus. The power transmitting apparatus includes: a power generating unit generating power using renewable energy; a first power measuring unit measuring a power amount generated in a specified period; and a power transmitting unit transmitting the generated power in the specified period and information on the measured power amount to the power receiving apparatus. The power receiving apparatus includes: a power receiving unit receiving the power and the information on the power amount from the power transmitting apparatus; a second power measuring unit measuring a power amount received in the specified period; a determining unit comparing the received power amount and the measured power amount and determining whether such amounts match; and a power reception control unit operable when the amounts do not match, to stop reception of the power and the information. | 01-12-2012 |
20120280827 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - There is provided an information processing apparatus including a control section which performs control of selecting, based on a state of a user, an ecological action capable of being carried out by the user from among a plurality of ecological actions, and of presenting the selected ecological action to the user. | 11-08-2012 |
20120294637 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - In an image forming apparatus, a processor performs: a solid density stabilization of adjusting, in accordance with detected toner adhesion amounts of solid toner images of solid tone patterns, a condition to form solid images with respective target image densities; a misregistration reduction of adjusting, in accordance with detection timing of position detection toner images of misregistration detection patterns, a condition to reduce misregistration of toner images; and a halftone density stabilization of adjusting, in accordance with detected toner adhesion amounts of area coverage modulation toner images, a condition to form halftone images with respective target image densities. The processor continuously performs the solid density stabilization and the misregistration reduction, and starts the halftone density stabilization when the solid density stabilization is completed and the misregistration reduction is not completed, to concurrently perform a step of the misregistration reduction and at least a step of the halftone density stabilization. | 11-22-2012 |
20120306882 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - There is provided an information processing apparatus including a control section which performs control of presenting, in association with each other, actual energy consumption representing an amount of energy consumed by a device in a case where a user performs any one of user actions, the user actions each being capable of being carried out by the user, and estimated energy consumption representing an amount of energy consumed by the device in a case where the user does not perform the user action. | 12-06-2012 |
20130156449 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a image forming unit; an image bearing member having a surface to bear a toner image and a test pattern; the surface having a first time-surface positioned identical to the test pattern, an integer multiple of revolutions upstream or downstream from the test pattern in a surface movement direction, and a second time-surface positioned different from the test pattern, shorter than one revolution upstream or downstream from the test pattern; a reflection light detector to detect the amount of light reflected from the test pattern and the first and second time-surfaces of the image bearing member; and a controller to control the image forming unit based on the detection result and determine whether to execute a first-surface control to detect at least the first time-surface or a second-surface control to detect only the second time-surface based on use condition of the image forming apparatus. | 06-20-2013 |
20130210249 | CONVERTER AND PROGRAM - There is provided a converter including a connecting terminal connectable to a connecting device, a communicating unit capable of carrying out communication, and a communication restricting unit configured to restrict the communication carried out by the communicating unit if the connecting device is removed from the connecting terminal. | 08-15-2013 |
20130210250 | CONVERTER AND PROGRAM - There is provided a converter including a converting unit converting a communication mode of a connecting device having a connecting terminal. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211606 | APPLIANCE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND APPLIANCE MANAGEMENT METHOD - There is provided an appliance management apparatus including a connection state acquiring unit acquiring information generated due to an appliance terminal of an electronic appliance being positioned close to or connected to a power supplying terminal that supplies power, and a connection state management unit managing a connection state of the appliance terminal to the power supplying terminal using the information acquired by the connection state acquiring unit. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211607 | POWER SUPPLYING APPARATUS AND POWER SUPPLYING METHOD - There is provided a power supplying apparatus including a terminal electrically connected to a terminal of another apparatus, an authentication information storage unit storing information regarding authentication of the other apparatus electrically connected to the terminal, and a power supplying control unit controlling supplying of power to the terminal. The power supplying control unit is operable, even when communication with an authentication apparatus that carries out authentication of the other apparatus electrically connected to the terminal is cut off, to continue supplying power to the other apparatus, operable, when an electrical connection between the other apparatus and the terminal is disconnected, to stop supplying power to the terminal, and operable when an apparatus is newly and electrically connected to the terminal, to control the supplying of power to the terminal by way of a comparison with the information stored in the authentication information storage unit. | 08-15-2013 |
20130212643 | TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE, RECEPTION APPARATUS, AND AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM - There is provided a transmission apparatus including a terminal electrically connected to a terminal of another apparatus, a body information acquiring unit acquiring body information of a user holding the transmission apparatus, and a transmission unit operable, by carrying out load modulation in accordance with the terminal contacting or being positioned close to the terminal of the other apparatus, to transmit, via the terminal, information on which the body information acquired by the body information acquiring unit is superimposed. | 08-15-2013 |
20130236200 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a controller configured to control a toner-image forming device to form a toner patch; and a detector configured to detect the toner patch on the image carrier. During a non-printing period, the controller causes a toner-image forming device to form toner patches, causes the detector to detect densities of the toner patches, and adjusts an image-forming condition of the toner-image forming device based on detected densities. During a printing period, the controller causes the toner-image forming device to form an output image in an image area and form fewer toner patches in a non-image area, causes the detector to detect densities of the fewer toner patches, and adjusts the image-forming condition of the toner-image forming device based on detected densities. The fewer toner patches are selected from and fewer than the plurality of toner patches formed during the non-printing period. | 09-12-2013 |
20130264888 | POWER SUPPLYING APPARATUS, POWER RECEIVING APPARATUS, STATE MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND PROGRAM - There is provided a power supplying apparatus including a state determining unit that determines whether power supply with respect to an external apparatus of a power supply object to supply power is enabled, an information generating unit that generates evidence information regarding a power supply disabled state, when the power supply with respect to the external apparatus of the power supply object is disabled, and a transmission control unit that transmits the generated evidence information to at least one external apparatus of a transmission object. | 10-10-2013 |
20140018967 | POWER CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT DEVICE, POWER CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, POWER CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT METHOD, AND POWER CONSUMPTION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - There is provided a power consumption management device including a power measurement unit configured to measure power consumption of an electrical device, an environmental factor measurement unit configured to measure a factor of an environment in which the electrical device is used, a storage unit configured to store a predicted value related to the power consumption in which a value of the factor of the environment is designated as a parameter, and a calculation/control unit. The calculation/control unit obtains the predicted value related to the power consumption stored in the storage unit based on the value of the factor of the environment measured by the environmental factor measurement unit and compares the obtained predicted value related to the power consumption to an actual measurement value related to the power consumption obtained based on a power consumption value measured by the power measurement unit. | 01-16-2014 |
20140028265 | BATTERY CONTROL UNIT, CHARGE-DISCHARGE UNIT, ELECTRIC POWER CONTROL UNIT, BATTERY UNIT, ELECTRIC VEHICLE - A battery control unit includes: a storage section holding remaining amount data that indicates a remaining amount of a battery; and a control section managing the battery in a fashion of separating the battery into a first region and a second region, by a way of separating the remaining amount data into first remaining amount data and second remaining data and of allowing the storage section to hold the first and second remaining amount data. | 01-30-2014 |
20140114610 | MANAGEMENT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS, MANAGEMENT METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS, AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - There is provided a management apparatus for an electrical apparatus, the management apparatus including a communication unit configured to receive conduction state information from an electrical apparatus, a storage unit configured to store reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus, and a determination unit configured to compare the conduction state information of the electrical apparatus with the reference conduction state information of the electrical apparatus to determine a state of the electrical apparatus. | 04-24-2014 |
20140270818 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a developing device to develop with developer a latent image formed on the image bearer, a developer container to contain developer, a temporary reservoir to temporarily store developer supplied from the developer container and having an outlet to discharge the temporarily stored developer to the developing device, a first conveyance device to transport developer from the developer container to the temporary reservoir, a second conveyance device to transport developer from the temporary reservoir to the developing device, a first developer amount detector to detect an amount of developer in the temporary reservoir, and a controller to control driving of the first conveyance device based on a detection result generated by the first developer amount detector and data relating to driving of the second conveyance device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140294412 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming unit, a detector, and a controller to adjust an image forming condition based on a detection result by the detector. During a non-printing period, multiple toner patterns are formed in an end and center portions of the image bearer in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the image bearer moves, and a smaller number of toner patterns selected from the multiple toner patterns are formed in a non-image area, in the end portion of the image bearer, during a printing period. The controller determines a target density X of the smaller number of toner patterns by X=H (a mean detected density of the multiple toner patterns formed in the end portion)×J (a predetermined reference value)/I(a mean detected density of the multiple toner patterns formed in the end portion and in the center portion). | 10-02-2014 |
20140375138 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, POWER RECEIVING DEVICE, AND PROGRAM - Devices, methods, and programs for providing a notice indicating whether a device supports an authentication function. A method for providing notice may include performing communication with a device, making a determination whether the device is a power supply target, selectively transmitting power to the device based on a result of the determination, and providing a notice indicating whether the device supports an authentication function based on the result of the determination. A power supply device may include a communication unit, a determining unit, a power control unit, and a notice control unit. Another method for providing notice may include performing communication with a device, and providing a notice indicating whether the power supply device supports the authentication function based on a result of the communication. A power receiving device may include a communication unit and a notifying unit. | 12-25-2014 |
20150022185 | POWER RECEIVING DEVICE AND PROGRAM - There is provided a power receiving device including a connecting unit that is connected to a power line through which power is transmitted, a determining unit that determines whether transmitted power is chargeable, based on power identification information indicating whether the transmitted power is chargeable power, and a notification control unit that performs notification based on a determination result. | 01-22-2015 |
20150028690 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE, POWER RECEIVING DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY METHOD, POWER RECEIVING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Devices and methods for supply or receiving electric power. A power supply method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling transmission of electric power from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device based on the collation. A power receiving method may include specifying a type of a power source, specifying a power receiving capability of a power receiving device, performing collation of the specified type of the power source with the specified power receiving capability, and controlling, based on the collation, selective conversion of electric power transmitted from the power source of the specified type to the power receiving device. | 01-29-2015 |