Author: claimsbot

1. A cover ferrule comprising:
a head portion having a hexagonally shaped portion with a central opening, coaxially aligned with a central axis of the cover ferrule, passing therethrough and defining an inner space therein;
a joint shield portion provided at an upper surface of the head portion, the joint shield portion comprising
a central opening coaxially aligned with respect to the central opening of the head portion and the central axis of the cover ferrule, and
a plurality of extension members extending radially outwardly from the hexagonal shaped portion with respect to the central axis of the cover ferrule and defining an arc connecting respectively adjacent extension members; and

a stem portion extending downwardly from a first end proximate a lower surface of the hexagonally shaped portion of the head portion to an opposed second end thereof and having a central opening therein defining an inner space that is continuous with respect to the inner space of the head portion.
2. The cover ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the joint shield portion further comprises a tapered surface extending from an outer peripheral edge of the central opening toward the central axis thereof.
3. The cover ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the joint shield portion includes 6 extension members, and the arcs connecting adjacent extension members are each 120\xb0.
4. The cover ferrule according to claim 1, wherein the extension members each comprise a flat end face extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to an upper surface of the joint shield portion and that is substantially parallel with respect to the central axis of the cover ferrule.
5. A ferrule array including comprising:
a plurality of first ferrules, each of the first ferrules comprising
a hexagonally shaped head portion having an upper surface including a flat portion circumscribing a central opening of the head portion, and
a substantially cylindrical stem portion extending from a lower surface of the head portion and having a central opening therein,
wherein the central openings of the head portion and the stem portion are coaxially aligned with respect to one another and a central axis of the first ferrules, to define a single continuous ferrule opening that passes through the first ferrule from an upper surface of the head portion to a lower surface of the stein portion thereof,
wherein the plurality of first ferrules are arranged in a pattern to define an array; and

a plurality of second ferrules, each of the second ferrules comprising
a hexagonally shaped head portion,
a substantially cylindrical stem portion extending from a lower surface of the head portion,
a central opening that is coaxially aligned with respect to a central axis of the second ferrules and passing continuously therethrough from a central opening in an upper surface of the head portion to a central opening in a lower surface of the stem portion, and
a joint shield portion provided at an upper surface of the head portion, the joint shield portion comprising
a central opening, coaxially aligned with respect to the central openings of the head portion and the stem portion and with respect to the central axis of the second ferrule, and
a plurality of extension members extending radially outward with respect to the central axis of the second ferrule and defining arcs connecting respectively adjacent extensions,

wherein the plurality of second ferrules are arranged among the plurality of first ferrules in the array;

wherein a number \u201cn\u201d of the plurality of second ferrules corresponds to a number \u201c2n\u201d of the plurality of first ferrules in the array; and
wherein lower surfaces of the extension members of the joint shield section of the second ferrules contact the flat portions of the upper surfaces of the head portions of the first ferrules in the array so that the extension members overlap a portion of the upper surfaces of the respective head portions of the first ferrules, whereby the arc portions of the extension members each circumscribe a portion of the central openings of the adjacent head portions of the first ferrules, and any gaps present between outer peripheral edges of respectively adjacent head portions of the first ferrules in the array are overlapped by the extension members.
6. The ferrule array according to claim 5, wherein the joint shield portion further comprises a tapered surface extending from an outer peripheral edge of the central opening toward the central axis of the second ferrules.
7. The ferrule array according to claim 5, wherein the joint shield portion includes six extension members, and the arcs connecting adjacent extension members are each 120\xb0.
8. The ferrule array according to claim 5, wherein the extension members each comprise a flat end face extending in a direction that is substantially perpendicular with respect to an upper surface of the joint shield portion and that is substantially parallel with respect to the central axis of the second ferrule, whereby adjacent end faces of extension members from adjacent second ferrules in the array face one another, are separated only by a predetermined gap in an inoperative state of the array, and to abut one another in a gas-tight manner in an operative state of the array.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A microlens comprising:
a lens body; and
a plurality of fibers each having one end secured to a surface of the microlens body.
2. The microlens of claim 1, wherein the fibers are light-transparent.
3. The micro lens of claim 1, wherein the fibers have a diameter less than about 400 nm.
4. The microlens of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of fibers has a length in the range of about 500 nm to about 2000 nm.
5. The microlens of claim 1, wherein about 50 to less than 100 percent of the surface area of the microlens body is covered with the fibers.
6. The microlens of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer for fixing the plurality of fibers to the lens body.
7. The microlens of claim 7, wherein the adhesive layer is a cured adhesive layer.
8. The microlens of claim 1, wherein the fibers are vertically aligned on the surface.
9. (canceled)
10. A pixel array comprising:
a plurality of photosensors; and
a plurality of microlenses associated with the photosensors, wherein the microlenses each have a body portion and an anti-reflective surface layer on the body portion comprising a plurality of aligned fibers having ends fixed to the body portion.
11. The pixel array of claim 10, wherein the anti-reflective layer provides the microlens with an index of refraction closer to the index of refraction of air than the index of refraction of the microlens body.
12. The pixel array of claim 10, further comprising an adhesive coating on the surface of each microlens body for adhering the fibers to the surface of the body portion.
13. An imager device comprising:
a plurality of pixels formed on a substrate;
a plurality of microlenses formed over the plurality of pixels, wherein each microlens has a fiber-coated surface; and
a readout structure for reading out signals from the plurality of pixels and for providing an image based on the signals.
14. The imager device of claim 13, wherein the fiber-coated surface of the microlens comprises an adhesive coating and a plurality of vertically aligned fibers.
15-20. (canceled)
21. A method of forming a pixel array, comprising:
forming a plurality of pixels on a substrate;
forming a plurality of microlenses over the plurality of pixels;
forming a plurality of vertically aligned fibers on the surface of the microlenses.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of forming a plurality of fibers further comprises fixing the plurality of fibers in a vertically-oriented arrangement on the surface of each of the microlenses.
23. (canceled)
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of forming a plurality of fibers includes forming an adhesive coating over the plurality of microlenses and propelling the plurality of fibers in an air-stream toward the adhesive coating such that the ends of the fibers attach to the surface of the microlens.
25. (canceled)
26. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of forming a plurality of fibers includes placing the pixel array in an electric field.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising providing the fibers with a same electrical charge on one end of the fibers such that the fibers repel each other.
28. (canceled)
29. A method of forming a microlens comprising:
providing an adhesive layer on a surface of a microlens;
providing fibers on the adhesive coating;
causing the fibers to stand vertically on the microlens; and
curing the adhesive layer.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of providing an adhesive layer comprises either applying a vapor prime of adhesive material or spraying an adhesive material onto the surface of a microlens.
31. (canceled)
32. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of providing fibers comprises propelling fibers in an air- stream toward the adhesive layer.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of providing fibers further includes embedding one end of each fiber into the adhesive layer.
34. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of causing the fibers to stand vertically on the microlens comprises placing the microlens in an electric field.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the fibers are charged to a predetermined polarity by placing the microlens in the electric field.
36. (canceled)

1. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a drum frame supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing frame supporting said developing roller, said developing frame being movable relative to said drum frame and capable of taking a contacting position in which said developing roller is in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which said developing roller is spaced from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and
a portion-to-be-positioned contactable to the main assembly to position said process cartridge relative to the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a first external force and a second force receiving portion, provided at a higher position than said portion-to-be-positioned, configured to receive a second external force, wherein said second force receiving portion is movable relative to said developing frame, wherein said second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position provided by said first force receiving portion receiving the first external force below said second force receiving portion, and is movable from the stand-by position to the operating position for moving said developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position, wherein the operating position is above the stand-by position, and said second force receiving portion is projected beyond a top surface of said process cartridge when said second force receiving portion is in the operating position, and wherein a distance, in a vertical direction, through which said second force receiving portion moves from the stand-by position to the operating position is larger than a distance, in the vertical direction, through which said first force receiving portion is moved by the first external force.
2. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said force receiving device includes a first lever member provided with said first force receiving portion, a rotatable gear member engaging with said first lever member, and a second lever member provided with said second force receiving portion and movable through engagement with said gear member.
3. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said force receiving device includes a first lever member provided with said first force receiving portion, and a second lever member provided with said second force receiving portion, which is rotatable about a rotational center in interrelation with movement of said first lever member.
4. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first force receiving portion is provided on said drum frame.
5. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said force receiving device is provided on said developing frame.
6. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said first force receiving portion contacts the main assembly of the apparatus and receives the first external force when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.
7. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said second force receiving portion receives the second external force from a force applying means provided movably in the main assembly of the apparatus when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.
8. A process cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said first force receiving portion receives the first external force at a lower side of said process cartridge lower than an upper side of said process cartridge by contacting the main assembly of the apparatus.
9. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said process cartridge is detachably mountable to said main assembly of the apparatus through an opening provided in the main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction crossing with an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
10. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the main assembly of the apparatus includes a drawer member movable between an inside mounting position and a retracted position in which said process cartridge is mountable thereon.
11. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said second force receiving portion permits, in the stand-by position, said process cartridge to enter the main assembly of the apparatus, and is moved to the operating position from the stand-by position when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of the apparatus.
12. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said drum frame and said developing frame are rotatable relative to each other about a rotation axis, and said second force receiving portion is more remote from the rotation axis in the operating position than in the stand-by position.
13. A process cartridge according to claim 7, wherein a moving distance of said second force receiving portion is larger than that of said first force receiving portion in a direction toward a force applying member.
14. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said drum frame supports rotatably said photosensitive drum by way of a covering member.
15. A process cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said developing frame supports rotatably said developing roller by way of a bearing.
16. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, said apparatus comprising:
(i) a movable force applying member;
(ii) a main assembly contact portion;
(iii) mounting means for mounting a process cartridge;
(iv) said process cartridge mounted demountably to said mounting means, said process cartridge including:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a drum frame supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing frame supporting said developing roller, said developing frame being movable relative to said drum frame and being capable of taking a contacting position in which said developing roller is in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which said developing roller is spaced from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a portion-to-be-positioned contacted to the main assembly to position said process cartridge relative to the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly;
a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a first external force when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a second force receiving portion, provided at a higher position than said portion-to-be- positioned, configured to receive a second external force when said force applying member moves, wherein said second force receiving portion is movable relative to said developing frame, wherein said second force receiving portion is placed in a stand-by position retracted from an operating position provided by said first force receiving portion receiving the first external force below said second receiving portion, and is movable from the stand-by position to the operating position for moving said developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position, wherein the operating position is above the stand-by position, and said second force receiving portion is projected beyond a top surface of said process cartridge when said second force receiving portion is in the operating position, and wherein a distance, in a vertical direction, through which said second force receiving portion moves from the stand-by position to the operating position is larger than a distance, in a vertical direction, through which said first force receiving portion is moved by the first external force; and

(vi) feeding means for feeding the recording material.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said first force receiving portion receives the first external force at a lower side of said process cartridge lower than an upper side of said process cartridge by contacting the main assembly of said apparatus.
18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said process cartridge is detachably mountable to said main assembly of said apparatus through an opening provided in the main assembly of said electrophotographic image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction crossing an axial direction of said electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
19. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the main assembly of said apparatus includes a drawer member movable between an inside mounting position and a retracted position in which said process cartridge is mountable thereon.
20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said second force receiving portion permits, in the stand-by position, said process cartridge to enter the main assembly of said apparatus, and is moved to the operating position from the stand-by position when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly of said apparatus.
21. A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising:
an electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing roller configured and positioned to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a drum frame supporting said electrophotographic photosensitive drum;
a developing frame supporting said developing roller, said developing frame being movable relative to said drum frame and capable of taking a contacting position in which said developing roller is in contact with said electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which said developing roller is spaced from said electrophotographic photosensitive drum; and
a portion-to-be-positioned contactable to the main assembly to position said process cartridge relative to the main assembly when said process cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; and
a force receiving device including a first force receiving portion configured and positioned to receive a first external force and a second force receiving portion, provided at a higher position than said portion-to-be-positioned, configured to receive a second external force, wherein said second force receiving portion is movable relative to said developing frame, wherein said second force receiving portion is placed in a stand by position retracted from an operating position provided by said first force receiving portion receiving the first external force below said second force receiving portion, and is movable from the stand by position to the operating position for moving said developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position, wherein the operating position is above the stand-by position, and said second force receiving portion is projected beyond a top surface of said process cartridge when said second force receiving portion is in the operating position, wherein said force receiving device includes a first lever member provided with said first force receiving portion, a rotatable gear member engaging with said first lever member, and a second lever member provided with said second force receiving portion and movable through engagement with said gear member.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Thrust bearing arrangement comprising a thrust bearing and a component centered thereon, the thrust bearing including a roller body cage holding several roller bodies and at least one race disk with the race disk having a collar surrounding the roller body cage axially with play and at an opposite end a flange arrangement, which is directed in an opposite axial direction and in whose internal corner the component contacting the race disk is centered, at least a leg of the internal corner forming the flange arrangement has a relieved inner contour to receive a corner defined by an opening in the component, wherein the internal corner includes an axial surface of the leg, a radial surface of the race disk, the radial surface extending outwardly beyond the axial surface, and an outwardly directed transition region between the axial surface and the radial surface that defines a triangular shaped undercut.
2. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange arrangement is provided as an annular flange.
3. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange arrangement is composed of several annular flange segments distributed in a peripheral direction.
4. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange arrangement is arranged on an outer periphery of the race disk.
5. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange arrangement is arranged on an inner periphery of the race disk.
6. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange arrangement interacts with a spacing ring.
7. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange arrangement interacts with a guiding component centering the thrust bearing arrangement.
8. Thrust bearing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the race disk is a sheet-metal ring produced in a stamping and deep-drawing process.