age Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state. Full Article
age Image shake correcting apparatus and control method for same, lens barrel, optical apparatus, and imaging apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The CPU acquires the output of an angular velocity sensor and performs image shake correction. An angle 1 calculating unit integrates a signal from which an offset component is removed to calculate an angle 1. An angular velocity subtraction amount calculating unit calculates an angular velocity subtraction amount based on a signal obtained by subtracting a first offset from the output of the angular velocity sensor and a signal obtained by subtracting a second offset from the output of the angle 2 calculating unit. An angle 2 calculating unit integrates a signal obtained by subtracting the angular velocity subtraction amount from the output of the angular velocity sensor to calculate an angle 2. The CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 1 prior to operation of a release SW, whereas the CPU performs image shake correction based on the angle 2 after operation of the release SW. Full Article
age Reducing light damage in shutterless imaging devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of reducing light damage in a shutterless imaging device includes receiving a signal from a hardware device. The signal from the hardware devices is analyzed. In response to the analysis of the signal from the hardware device, a lens of the shutterless imaging device is adjusted. Adjusting the lens spreads out energy of far-field image light incident on an image sensor of the shutterless imaging device. Full Article
age ***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Image sensing and printing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image sensing and printing digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing further storing therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots on the card and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; and a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media. The microcontroller integrates on a single chip a VLIW processor, a printhead interface, and an output buffer effecting communication between the VLIW processor and the printhead interface. Full Article
age Image photographing apparatus having a slidable shutter assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image photographing apparatus capable of maintaining the size of a sensor plate even in a case when the size of a shutter assembly is increased, the image photographing apparatus including a shutter assembly configured to control an amount of light entered, an image sensor disposed at a rear of the shutter assembly to change the light to an electrical signal, a sensor plate configured to support the image sensor, and a main frame configured such that the shutter assembly and the sensor plate are be mounted thereon, wherein the main frame includes a frame base, and a shutter mounting portion protrudedly formed from the frame base such that the shutter assembly is mounted in a sliding manner on the shutter mounting portion. Full Article
age System and method for storing images captured from a booth By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system for capturing images in a booth. The system includes a network, a server communicatively coupled to the network, the server comprising a database operable to store images. The system further includes a booth communicatively coupled to the network, the booth comprising an input device operable to receive one or more inputs from a user, a camera operable to capture one or more images of the user, a display operable to present the one or more images, and a booth computer operable to transmit the one or more images to the server. Full Article
age Imaging apparatus with display and image display apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A digital camera is provided with a vertically long camera body having an approximately rectangular solid shape. An LCD panel provided in a rear surface of the camera body is arranged such that longitudinal directions of the display screen and the camera body correspond to each other. The digital camera is operated through a touch panel provided in a lower portion of the display screen. In a taking mode, an image is displayed in a small size on an upper portion of the display screen. In reproducing, the camera body is rotated sideways by 90 degree. In a reproducing mode, display posture of the image is also rotated by 90 degree, and the image is displayed in a large size on the entire display screen. Full Article
age Image capturing toy By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An image capturing toy may include a toy vehicle that may include at least one wheel and a camera, the camera including a camera lens and/or a housing that may include a first aperture and a wheel chock configured to inhibit displacement of a wheel. The housing may be moveable from an open position in which the toy vehicle may be placed in and removed from the housing, to a closed position in which the housing releasably encases the toy vehicle such that the camera lens is accessible through the first aperture and the wheel chock engages the at least one wheel. Full Article
age Print-level sensing for interactive play with a printed image By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method, system, and apparatus are provided for interactively playing with a printed image. A printed image resembling a game board, book, or picture, is provided. The printed image includes a registration area and a plurality of feedback areas in which an indicator color is printed at a predetermined level, e.g. percentage of area. A figurine is provided that includes a light source and light sensor. The light source and light sensor are placed in proximity to the designated areas in the image to sense the level of the indicator color printed therein and an associated output is provided. The registration area is useable to identify a predefined template associated with the image to allow feedback of the figurine with a plurality of different printed images. The figurine can include an ultraviolet light source to activate graphics printed in the image with photochromic ink. Full Article
age Three dimensional image projector stabilization circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for providing a feedback circuit for a three dimensional projector. First and second input devices and a sensor for determining the rotational speed of the second input device are provided. A control device for controlling the rotational speed of the second input device and a phase locked loop (PLL) are provided. A phase reference signal is created based on the signal rate of the first input device. A phase signal is created based on the rotational speed of the second input device. The PLL compares the phase reference signal and the phase feedback signal to determine whether the first input device and the second input device are synchronized. A signal is sent to the control device for the second input device to change the rotational speed of the second input device in response to determining that the first input device and the second input device are not synchronized. Full Article
age Bookbinding apparatus and image forming system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 08:00:00 EDT A bookbinding apparatus for producing a booklet by coating an adhesive onto a back side of a bundle of sheets and by pasting a book cover onto the back side of the bundle of sheets, comprises: an oblique cutout portion forming section to form a cutout on an edge of each sheet of the bundle of sheets in such a way that an oblique cutout portion is formed along the width of the back side of the bundle of sheets; a sheet bundle accommodating section to accommodate the bundle of sheets on which the oblique cutout portion is formed; a coating section to coat an adhesive on the back side of the bundle of sheets accommodated in the sheet bundle accommodating section; and a bookbinding section to paste a book cover on the adhesive-coated back side of the bundle of sheets so as to produce the booklet. Full Article
age Scanner capable of detecting the orientation of arranged document and image reading apparatus including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are a scanner and an image reading apparatus including the same. The scanner can include a transparent plate, a scanning unit configured to scan a document on the transparent plate, a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is positioned in a first document zone that is associated with an area in which a first document type is to be positioned based on a first alignment reference point provided on the transparent plate. The second sensor is positioned in a second document zone that is associated with an area in which a second document type of a different size is positioned based on a second alignment reference point provided on the transparent plate. The first document zone and the second document zone are non-overlapping zones. The document type and/or orientation can be determined based on the detection signals from the first and second sensors. Full Article
age Cover applier and method of aligning a book image to a cover image By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EDT A cover applier is provided. The cover applier includes a transport system transporting a book, a cover delivery delivering a cover to a book, the cover delivery driven by a servomotor, a book sensor detecting an image printed on the book prior to the cover being delivered to the book and a cover sensor detecting an image printed on the cover prior to the cover being delivered to the book. The servomotor adjusting the position of the cover with respect to the book as a function of the book sensor and cover sensor. A method is also provided. Full Article
age Information page By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EDT An information page (1) of a security document, includes: an information part (3), on the upper or lower surface of which part of the information recorded on the information page (1) can be seen; and a flexible connecting part (2) with good bending strength for attaching the information page (1) to a security document. To ensure that detaching the information part and the connecting part from each other leaves visible marks, the connecting part (2) has a netlike structure, and the connecting part (2) is arranged to penetrate into the information part (3) in the immediate vicinity of the upper or lower surface of the information part. Full Article
age Sheet processing apparatus having a sheet insertion function, control method therefor, image forming apparatus, and program for implementing the control method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EDT A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size. In a front cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, and in a rear cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into the bundle of sheets. Insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation in a manual feed tray 105. An insertion sheet for the front cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to a finisher 500 in one of a face-down state and a face-up state. An insertion sheet for the rear cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to the finisher 500 in the other of the face-down state and the face-up state. The insertion sheets for the front cover and for the rear cover conveyed from the manual feed tray 105 and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the finisher 500. Full Article
age Booklet conveying device, image forming system, and booklet conveying method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST In an embodiment, a booklet conveying device includes: a pair of conveying units; a positioning unit; a pressing unit; and a conveying-force changing unit. The pair of conveying units convey a booklet made of a stack of folded sheets, and change a distance therebetween. The positioning unit positions the booklet by making a leading-end portion of the booklet abut thereto. The pressing unit presses the booklet positioned by the positioning unit onto one of the conveying units in order to fix. The conveying-force changing unit changes the conveying force exerted by the conveying units. Full Article
age Image forming system having ring binding function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST An image forming system including a control section provides control in such a way that, the ring binder of the size determined for the first set of copies is adopted so that ring binding is performed for a second set of copies or copies thereafter in a case of executing a job for ring binding of a plurality of copies. When at least one of a status change in the sheet feed section, a main power source being turned off, or a change in a job ticket is occurred from a suspension to a resumption of the job, since the thickness of a bundle of sheets may change, the thickness measuring section is caused to measure the thickness of the bundle in a first set of copies subsequent to resumption. And the control section judges continuation or suspension of a job. Full Article
age Image forming system and image forming device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an image forming system including an image forming device which includes a paper feeding tray, a print section which performs printing to papers fed from the paper feeding tray and a control section which controls so as to feed the printed papers to a post-processing device as a booklet main body to be book-bound, and the post-processing device which carries out ring-binding processing to the fed papers and book-binds a booklet, and the control section controls so as to feed a front cover paper, a back cover paper, papers for binding of the booklet to a ring-binding process section of the post-processing device along with the booklet main body, and a paper feeding order is in an order of the back cover paper, the papers for binding, the front cover paper and the booklet main body. Full Article
age Image reading apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a feeding unit, a carriage holding the reading unit, a motor, a motor-side transmission gear, a feeding unit-side transmission gear, a carriage-side transmission gear, a switching gear which switches between a meshing state of meshing with the feeding unit-side transmission gear at a feeding unit-side position and a meshing state of meshing with the carriage-side transmission gear at a carriage-side position, a restraint member which applies a restraint force for restraining the switching of the switching gear, and a motor control unit which when switching the switching gear between the carriage-side position and the feeding unit-side position, executes a large torque control of controlling the motor to generate a switching torque which is larger than a moving reading torque to be generated by the motor at a time of document reading when executing a moving reading. Full Article
age Image forming system which controls image formation on a bundle of sheets to be bound by a ring bookbinding section By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An image forming system includes: a ring bookbinding section which perform a ring bookbinding to a bundle of sheets by using a binder provided with a spine portion and a plurality of finger portions; and a judging section, wherein a last page is firstly fed immediately after job initiation and, subsequently after having fed the last page, image formation based on the image data is initiated, when the judging section judges that an image is not formed on the last page, and wherein all of the image data is firstly acquired completely after job initiation, subsequently the last page is fed and formed image thereon, and then image formation of remaining pages is carried out, when the judging section judges that image is formed on the last page. Full Article
age Method for creating a customized children's storybook with fingerprint art using fingerprint-ready image templates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Methods for creating customized children's storybooks with fingerprint art using fingerprint-ready templates stored in association with a software application on a desktop computer, a tablet computer, or a smart phone. The methods include the use of preconfigured templates and prompted discussions that elicit responses from the child to create text for the storybook. The text may be generated by speech recognition software processing digital audio recordings of the child's responses. A digital image of the child's fingerprint is acquired and the fingerprint image and/or the storybook scenes are scaled to fit each other. Fingerprint-ready image templates are used to facilitate the creation of fingerprint art. A completed page image is formed by digitally inserting a fingerprint into the fingerprint-shaped area, and if desired, coloring the image or drawing a scene around the image. When the scenes are completed the software application compiles the book pages and prints the same. Full Article
age Image reading apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST An image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit; a feeding unit; a carriage; a motor-side transmission gear for transmitting power from a motor; a carriage-side transmission gear for transmitting the power to the carriage; a feeding unit-side transmission gear for transmitting the power to the feeding unit; a switching gear switched between a meshing state with the carriage-side transmission gear at a carriage-side position and a meshing state with the feeding unit-side transmission gear at a feeding unit-side position; and a control device for performing: a first switching process for meshing the switching gear with the feeding unit-side transmission gear; a second switching process for meshing the switching gear with the carriage-side transmission gear; and an initialization process of the reading unit. Full Article
age No flange damage wedge lock washers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT No flange damage wedge lock washers are disclosed. The washers may comprise an upper washer and a lower washer. The lower washer may have a generally smooth bottom surface and at least one means for securement. The at least one means for securement may be arranged to keep together the lower washer and a flange without causing damage to the flange. A locking fastener assembly which comprises no flange damage wedge lock washers is also disclosed. The locking fastener assembly may include a lower washer having a generally smooth bottom surface and at least one means for securement. A method of manufacturing a locking fastener assembly which comprises no flange damage wedge lock washers is also disclosed. The locking fastener assembly of the method may include a lower washer having a generally smooth bottom surface and at least one means for securement. Full Article
age Stage circuit and scan driver using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A stage circuit and a scan driver using the same that is capable of concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) or progressively supplying a scan signal to a plurality of scan lines. The stage circuit includes a progressive driver and a concurrent driver. Full Article
age Scanning circuit, solid-state image sensor, and camera By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A scanning circuit, comprising first signal lines, second signal lines, third signal lines, a drive unit configured to drive the first signal lines, first buffers configured to drive the second signal lines in accordance with signals of the first signal lines, second buffers configured to drive the third signal lines in accordance with the signals of the first signal lines, and a shift register having a first part to be driven by signals of the second signal lines and a second part to be driven by signals of the third signal lines, wherein the first to third signal lines include two signal lines arranged in parallel to each other and configured to transmit the in-phase signals. Full Article
age Multiple data rate counter, data converter including the same, and image sensor including the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A counter includes a buffer unit and a ripple counter. The buffer unit generates at least one least significant signal of a count by buffering at least one clock signal until a termination time point. The ripple counter generates at least one most significant signal of the count by sequentially toggling in response to at least one of the least significant signal. The counter performs multiple data rate counting with enhance operation speed and reduced power consumption. Full Article
age Bidirectional shift register and image display device using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A display device including various portions, circuits and other arrangements for outputting various pulses and triggers, for controlling forward shift and backward shift operations. Full Article
age Thin film transistor threshold voltage offset compensation circuit, GOA circuit, and display By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An output thin film transistor threshold voltage offset compensation circuit, a GOA circuit, and a display. The circuit includes: a first capacitor, comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being connected to the gate of an output thin film transistor and receiving a charge signal, the second electrode being connected to the drain of the output thin film transistor, the first capacitor being used for, under the action of the charge signal, making the first electrode and the second electrode have a same voltage, so that a voltage difference between the drain and the source of the output thin film transistor is equal to a threshold voltage thereof; a first switch unit, connected to the drain and the source of the output thin film transistor, and opening under the action of a first clock signal, so that a voltage difference between the gate and the source of the output thin film transistor is equal to the threshold voltage thereof. Full Article
age Stage circuit and emission control driver using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A stage circuit including an output unit for supplying first or second power source to an output terminal is disclosed. The stage circuit may comprise a bidirectional driver for respectively supplying signals supplied to first and second input terminals, a first driver, and a second driver. The second driver controls the output unit to output the second power source to the output terminal without any voltage loss, corresponding to a second clock signal. Full Article
age Transportation and storage system for wind turbine blades By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle and a tip end frame. The tip end receptacle comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface for supporting the blade, a lower surface allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle. The tip end frame comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle in the tip end frame. A base part defines a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground. Full Article
age Trunk, cargo area, and truck bed storage press By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adjustable cargo storage press for organizing and securing cargo items stored in a cargo storage area of an automobile. The adjustable cargo storage press is disposed within or integrated with a cargo area of an automotive vehicle such as a trunk, bed or bed liner of a car, truck, or sport utility vehicle. The press prevents movement of cargo items and potential damage to the cargo items during transport. The press also maintains the position of the cargo items for easy removal from the cargo storage area. The press includes one or more hinged walls that lock in a vertical position and move towards each other along guide tracks. The one or more hinged walls compress the cargo items between the hinged walls, and fold flat when not in use so as not to limit cargo storage capacity of the cargo storage area. Full Article
age System and method to actively drive the common mode voltage of a receiver termination network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An active termination circuit for a differential receiver includes a first receiver element configured to receive a first component of a differential signal, a second receiver element configured to receive a second component of a differential signal, a common mode measurement element configured to receive the differential signal and generate a transmit common mode signal (Vcm) representing an average value of the differential signal, and a receiver (RX) common mode signal node. The termination circuit also comprises an active element configured to receive the transmit common mode signal (Vcm) and provide an output to the receiver common mode signal node, the output configured to drive the value of the signal at the receiver common mode signal node to the value of the transmit common mode signal (Vcm), and a capacitive element coupled to the receiver common mode signal node in parallel with the active element. Full Article
age Level shifter with low voltage loss By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method are disclosed for level shifting a DDC bus with a low voltage loss. A pull up circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a PMOS transistor and resistor. An NMOS pull up gate is also included in line with the DDC bus. When powered, the level shifter adjusts the voltage of transmitted signals to match the voltage of a receiving device. The resulting adjusted is slightly lower due to a threshold voltage lost across one or more transistors. Additionally, when unpowered, the level shifter releases the signal transmission line. Unadjusted signals can then be transmitted without consumption of power by the level shifter. Full Article
age Placement of storage cells on an integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for configuring the placement of a plurality of storage cells on an integrated circuit includes grouping the plurality of storage cells into a plurality of words, where each of the plurality of words is protected by an error control mechanism. The method also includes placing each of the storage cells on the integrated circuit such that a distance between any two of the storage cells belonging to one of the plurality of words is greater than a minimum distance. The minimum distance is configured such that a probability of any of the plurality of words experiencing multiple radiation induced errors is below a threshold value. Full Article
age Multi-phase voltage-controlled oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments provide a multi-phase voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that produces a plurality of output signals having a common frequency and different phases. In one embodiment, the VCO may include a passive conductive structure having a first ring and a plurality of taps spaced around the first ring. The VCO may further include a capacitive load coupled to the passive conductive structure, one or more feedback structures coupled between a pair of opposing taps of the plurality of taps, and one or more current injection devices coupled between a pair of adjacent taps of the plurality of taps. Full Article
age Voltage controlled oscillator band-select fast searching using predictive searching By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus tunes a frequency provided by a VCO. The apparatus determines a relative capacitance change associated with a first frequency and a desired frequency from a look-up table. The apparatus adjusts a capacitor circuit in the VCO based on the determined relative capacitance change determined from the look-up table in order to tune from the first frequency to the desired frequency. The apparatus determines that the frequency provided by the VCO is a second frequency different than the desired frequency after adjusting the capacitor circuit. The apparatus performs an iterative search to further adjust the capacitor circuit when a difference between the second frequency and the desired frequency is greater than a threshold. Full Article
age Voltage controlled oscillator with a large frequency range and a low gain By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system is disclosed for a voltage controlled oscillator (“VCO”) having a large frequency range and a low gain. Passive or active circuitry is introduced between at least one VCO cell in the voltage controlled oscillator and the voltage source for the VCO cell which reduces a gain value for the VCO to maintain stability of the system. Full Article
age Low noise voltage controlled oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An enhanced negative resistance voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit is provided, in which a parallel connection of a capacitor and a resistor configured to provide frequency-dependent transconductance is present across source nodes of a first pair of field effect transistors in which gate nodes and drain nodes are cross-coupled. The source nodes of the first pair of field effect transistors are electrically shorted to drain nodes of a second pair of field effect transistors of which the gate nodes are electrically shorted to the gate nodes of the first pair of field effect transistors. The parallel connection of the capacitor and the resistor includes a parallel connection of a capacitor and a resistor such that the net transconductance of the first pair of field effect transistors is less at low frequencies where thermal noise and flicker noise are dominant part of the phase noise than at the operational frequency range. Full Article
age Voltage-controlled oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus is disclosed that includes a first cross-coupled transistor pair, a second cross-coupled transistor pair, at least one capacitance unit, and an inductive unit. The first cross-coupled transistor pair and second cross-coupled transistor pair are coupled to a pair of first output nodes and a pair of second output nodes, respectively. The at least one capacitance unit is coupled to at least one of the pair of first output nodes and the pair of second output nodes. The inductive unit is coupled to the first cross-coupled transistor pair at the first output nodes and coupled to the second cross-coupled transistor pair at the second output nodes. The inductive unit generates mutual magnetic coupling between one of the first output nodes and one of the second output nodes and between the other of the first output nodes and the other of the second output nodes. Full Article
age Active drain plug for high voltage battery applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drain plug assembly that has particular application for sealing a drain hole in a high voltage battery compartment on a vehicle. The plug assembly includes a plug that inserted into the drain hole. The plug assembly further includes a return spring coupled to the plug and causing the plug to be biased into the drain hole. The plug assembly also includes at least one shape memory alloy device coupled to the plug and a support structure. The SMA device receives an electrical current that causes the device to contract and move the plug out of the drain hole against the bias of the return spring. Full Article
age Post-processing device and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The post-processing device includes: a binding unit that forms a cut in a sheet stack and cuts a part of the sheet stack into a predetermined shape to form a tongue portion in the sheet stack, the tongue portion having a part where one end part of the tongue portion is not separated from the sheet stack, and binds the sheet stack by bending the tongue portion and inserting the other end part of the tongue portion into the cut; and a sheet stack transport unit that transports the sheet stack in an orientation such that the one end part of the tongue portion in the sheet stack bound by the binding unit is on a downstream side of the other end part of the tongue portion in the sheet stack transport direction. Full Article
age Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A sheet processing apparatus 3 includes a position aligning section (61A, 61B), a holding section 53, and a processing section (38, 55). The position aligning section (61A, 61B) abuts the inner side or a fold of a sheet bundle (S2), which is formed by collecting a plurality of folded sheets (S1), to align the position of the folds of line plurality of folded sheets (S1). The holding section (53) holds the sheet bundle (S2) in which the position of the folds of the plurality of sheets (S1) has been aligned by the position aligning section (61A, 61B). The processing section (38, 55) performs a predetermined process on the sheet bundle (S2) held by the holding section 53. Full Article
age Image forming apparatus with alignment unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An image forming apparatus may include an image forming unit, a stacking unit, a control unit, and an alignment unit. The image forming unit forms an image on a recording material having a type. The stacking unit stacks the recording material on which the image formation is formed by the image forming unit. The control unit sets a predetermined number of sheets to a number that corresponds to the type of the recording material. The alignment unit aligns the recording material if the predetermined number of sheets of the recording material is stacked by the stacking unit. Full Article
age Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST According to an embodiment, there is provided a sheet processing apparatus includes a stacking unit that stacks a sheet conveyed thereto; a first alignment unit that aligns the sheet or a bundle of sheets stacked in the stacking unit in a sheet conveying direction; a second alignment unit that aligns the sheet or the bundle of sheets stacked in the stacking unit in a direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction; a pressing unit that presses the bundle of sheets at an end portion thereof on a predetermined one side; and a control unit that causes at least one of the first and second alignment units to execute an alignment operation during a press operation of the sheet or the bundle of sheets performed by the pressing unit. Full Article
age Image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST An image forming apparatus includes a main conveyance path 13, a main discharge roller 17, and a main stacking tray 19. The sorting discharge unit 20 includes a subsidiary conveyance path 22, a change-over mechanism 23, a subsidiary discharge roller 24 and a subsidiary stacking tray 26. The subsidiary discharge roller 24 is provided on the most downstream side of the subsidiary conveyance path 22. The subsidiary stacking tray 26 is arranged above the main stacking tray 19 and the transfer sheet P discharged from the subsidiary discharge roller 24 is stacked in the subsidiary stacking tray 26. A stacking concave portion 29 which expands a stackable area of the subsidiary stacking tray 26 is formed below the subsidiary discharge roller 24. Full Article
age Sheet processing device and image forming system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A sheet processing device includes a clamp configured to clamp an edge portion of a sheet, the edge portion being on a side of an edge parallel to a direction in which the sheet has been conveyed; a first processing unit configured to perform a first process on the sheet at the side of the edge, the first processing unit being disposed at a first position; a second processing unit configured to perform a second process on the sheet at the side of the edge, the second processing unit being disposed at a second position that is different from the first position in a vertical direction; and a moving unit configured to move the clamp from the first position to the second position or vice versa so that the clamp moves on a loop passing through the first position and the second position. Full Article
age Image forming apparatus, control method thereof and storage medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST This invention provides a technique of preventing a collision between an original document and a printing material on a conveyance path when an image forming apparatus executes both additional printing on the original document and printing on the printing material. In a case where both additional printing on an original document and printing on a printing material are executed, the image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the invention conveys a read original document to a transfer unit through a conveyance path commonly used for an original document and sheet, and prints an image to be added on the original document. After the original document is conveyed to the transfer unit through the conveyance path, the image forming apparatus feeds a sheet from a sheet feeding unit to the conveyance path, and performs copying on the sheet in the transfer unit. Full Article
age Printing control apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A printing control apparatus according to one aspect of this invention controls to print images on sheets based on image data of a plurality of pages, generate a bookbinding product by executing folding processing for the image-printed sheets, and output the bookbinding product. The printing control apparatus further accepts the position of an insertion sheet to be inserted into the sheets for which the folding processing is executed, and controls to output a plurality of bookbinding products by using, as a reference, the accepted position of the insertion sheet. Full Article
age Creasing device, image forming system, and creasing method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A creasing device forms a crease in a to-be-folded portion of a sheet. The creasing device includes a sheet-information reading unit that reads any one of sheet information and binding information; a determining unit that determines a surface, on which the crease is to be formed, of the sheet according to the one of the sheet information and the binding information read by the sheet-information reading unit; and a creasing unit that forms the crease on the surface determined by the determining unit. Full Article
age Sheet post-processing apparatus, image forming apparatus and sheet post-processing method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a sheet post-processing apparatus includes a machine body, a first roller pair, a tray, a second roller pair, a driving unit, an inlet sensor, a receiving unit and a control unit. The inlet sensor is configured to detect presence or absence of the sheet in the first roller pair driven by the driving unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive, from an image forming apparatus, sheet length information in the sheet conveying direction of the sheet as a target to which the print job is applied. The control unit is configured to control the driving unit to rotate, if the sheet length information indicates special length and the inlet sensor detects a trailing end of the sheet, at least rollers of the second roller pair a predetermined number of times and stop the rollers, the second roller pair nipping the sheet. Full Article