Author: claimsbot

1. An image forming apparatus which comprises a plurality of image forming stations arranged in parallel, each of image forming stations having a photosensitive drum, and which forms a desired image by combining toner images formed on the photosensitive drums, said image forming apparatus comprising:
a scanning optical system for deflecting and scanning a plurality of laser beams concurrently with a single deflector to irradiate the photosensitive drums,
wherein:
at least two laser beams are scanned in parallel on one of the photosensitive drums for forming a monochromatic image; and
both in a color mode and in a monochromatic mode, one of the at least two laser beams is used for synchronization of writing in a main scanning direction.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein:
in the monochromatic mode, the at least two laser beams are used to form a monochromatic image; and
in the color mode, the laser beam which is not used for synchronization of writing is used to form a color image.

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 surgical system for fusing tissue, the system comprising:
an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power;
a surgical instrument electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer the electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a distal end of the surgical instrument; and
a power control circuit for controlling the delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue in contact with the distal end of the surgical instrument; wherein the surgical system is configured to:
deliver the radio frequency energy at a non-pulsing power to the tissue for a period of time of 3 seconds or less, the non-pulsing power having no less than 7 Watts and no more than 35 Watts, the non-pulsing power further causing the tissue to begin to desiccate and to fuse within the period of time.
2. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency energy is delivered to the tissue with a current density below 0.12 Amps per square millimeter.
3. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the surgical system is configured to:
calculate an impedance of the tissue being fused; and
limit the flow of non-pulsing power when the impedance of the tissue being fused reaches a set impedance threshold within the period of time.
4. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the surgical system is configured to:
calculate an impedance of the tissue being fused during the period of time; and
terminate the flow of the non-pulsing power when the impedance of the tissue being fused reaches a predetermined level.
5. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the surgical instrument has a pair of end effectors, each end effector of the pair of end effectors having a contacting surface area of less than 22 square millimeters.
6. The surgical system of claim 5, wherein the contacting surface area is between 15 and 22 square millimeters.
7. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the non-pulsing power has an output current of-between 0.2 and 1.75 Amperes RMS.
8. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the non-pulsing power has an output current of-between 0.75 and 1.00 Amperes RMS.
9. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the non-pulsing power has an output voltage of between 5 and 135 Volts RMS.
10. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the non-pulsing power has an output voltage of between 70 and 90 Volts RMS.
11. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the surgical instrument has a pair of end effectors adapted to apply between 25 and 125 lbin2 of pressure to the tissue being fused.
12. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the non-pulsing power further causes the tissue to fuse to successfully withstand a burst test of 360 mm Hg or more.
13. A power control system for delivering radio frequency energy to a surgical instrument, the power control system comprising:
a power supply for delivering an output voltage and an output current to a distal end of the surgical instrument;
a sensing circuit for detecting parameters indicative of an impedance of a tissue portion being fused;
a power sequencing module for automatically sequencing an electrosurgical power delivered to the surgical instrument;
wherein the power sequencing module is adapted to:
apply non-pulsing power of no less than 7 Watts and no more than 35 Watts to the tissue portion for a period of time of 3 seconds or less, wherein the period of time is measured from beginning application of the non-pulsing power through the beginning of a desiccation of the tissue portion and through a drying out and the fusing of the tissue portion.
14. The power control system of claim 13, wherein the power sequencing module is adapted to terminate the flow of the non-pulsing power to the tissue portion being fused when the impedance of the tissue being fused reaches 150 ohms or more.
15. The power control system of claim 13, wherein the power sequencing module is further adapted to calculate an impedance of the tissue portion being fused through the impedance sensing circuit during the period of time; and
limit the flow of the non-pulsing
power to the tissue portion being fused by between 60 and 80% when the impedance of the tissue portion being fused reaches a set impedance threshold within the period of time.
16. The power control system of claim 13, wherein the power sequencing module is further adapted to reduce the non-pulsing power to the tissue portion being fused for a predetermined length of time prior to terminating the flow of the non-pulsing power to the tissue portion being fused.
17. The power control system of claim 13, wherein the power sequencing module is further adapted to calculate the impedance of the tissue portion being fused through the sensing circuit during the period of time; and
terminating the flow of the non-pulsing power to the tissue portion being fused when the impedance of the tissue portion being fused reaches a predetermined level.
18. The power control system of claim 13, wherein the power sequencing module is further adapted to:
hold the non-pulsing power to 35 Watts; and
limit the output voltage to a maximum of between 70 and 85 Volts.
19. The surgical system of claim 13, wherein the power sequencing module is adapted to fuse the tissue to successfully withstand a burst test of 360 mm Hg or more.
20. A surgical system for fusing tissue, the surgical system comprising:
an electrosurgical generator capable of delivering electrosurgical power;
a surgical instrument electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a distal end of the surgical instrument; and
a power control circuit for controlling the delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue through the distal end of the surgical instrument; wherein the surgical system is configured to
deliver a radio frequency energy to the tissue, the radio frequency energy having a non-pulsed power having an output current and an output voltage; and
apply the non-pulsed power to the tissue for a period of time while the non-pulsed power is held at between 7 Watts and 35 Watts, while allowing the output current and the output voltage to fluctuate, wherein the period of time is measured from beginning the application of the non-pulsed power through fusing of the tissue, and the non-pulsed power causes the tissue to begin to desiccate within the period of time, wherein the period of time is 3 seconds or less.
21. The surgical system of claim 20, wherein the surgical instrument has a pair of end effectors, each end effector of the pair of end effectors having a contacting surface area of less than 22 square millimeters.
22. The surgical system of claim 20, wherein the surgical system is configured to:
calculate an impedance of the tissue being fused;
limit the flow of the non-pulsed power when the impedance of the tissue being fused reaches a set impedance threshold; and
terminate the flow of the non-pulsed power when the impedance of the tissue being fused reaches a predetermined level indicative that the tissue being fused is desiccated.
23. The surgical system of claim 20, wherein the surgical system is configured to:
limit the output voltage to a maximum of between 70 and 85 Volts.
24. The surgical system of claim 20, wherein the surgical system is configured to apply the non-pulsed power to fuse the tissue to successfully withstand a burst test of 360 mm Hg or more.
25. A method of fusing tissue, the method comprising:
providing a surgical system having an electrosurgical generator and a surgical instrument electrically connected to the electrosurgical generator and adapted to transfer electrosurgical power from the electrosurgical generator to a distal end of the surgical instrument;
delivering a radio frequency energy to the tissue, the radio frequency energy having a non-pulsed power having an output current and an output voltage; and
applying the non-pulsed power to the tissue for a period of time while the non-pulsed power is held at between 7 Watts and 35 Watts, while allowing the output current and the output voltage to fluctuate, wherein the period of time is measured from the beginning of the application of the non-pulsed power and continues through fusing of the tissue, and the non-pulsed power causes the tissue to begin to desiccate within the period of time, wherein the period of time is 3 seconds or less.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
limiting the output voltage to a maximum of between 70 and 85 Volts.
27. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
fusing the tissue to successfully withstand a burst test of 360 mm Hg or more.
28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
terminating the flow of the non-pulsed power to the tissue being fused when an impedance of the tissue being fused reaches 150 ohms or more.
29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:
terminating the flow of non-pulsed power when an impedance of the tissue being fused reaches a predetermined level indicative that the tissue being fused is desiccated.
30. The method of claim 25, further comprising at least one of:
applying pressure to the tissue sufficient to compress the tissue to less than or equal to 0.127 millimeters; or
applying pressure of between 65 and 110 lbin2 to compress the tissue between a pair of end effectors on the surgical instrument.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit including a plurality of photosensitive members, an exposure unit configured to irradiate each of the plurality of photosensitive members with a corresponding light beam, a light amount control unit configured to control a light amount of the light beams emitted from the exposure unit, a plurality of developing units configured to develop electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of photosensitive members by exposure with the light beams, by using different toners, and a transfer unit configured to transfer toner images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members onto an image carrier;
a pattern forming unit configured to control the image forming unit to form, on the image carrier, a misalignment detection pattern for detecting a relative misalignment between the toner images transferred onto the image carrier from the plurality of photosensitive members;
a pattern reading unit configured to read the misalignment detection pattern; and
a correction unit configured to correct the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the pattern reading unit,
wherein the light amount control unit controls the light amount of the light beams which are exposed on the photosensitive members to a first light amount in order to form the misalignment detection pattern, and controls the light amount of the light beams to a second light amount in order to form an image based on image data from an external apparatus or a reading apparatus, wherein the first light amount is greater than the second light amount, and
wherein when the second light amount is controlled to an upper limit value, the light amount control unit controls the first light amount to a light amount greater than the upper limit value in order to form the misalignment detection pattern.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit further comprises a deflection unit configured to deflect the light beams emitted from the exposure unit so as to scan the photosensitive members with the light beams, and not less than one synchronization signal output unit configured to output a synchronization signal in accordance with receiving the light beams deflected by the deflection unit, and
wherein the light amount control unit controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the first light amount, in a case where the image forming unit forms the misalignment detection pattern, and controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the second light amount, in a case where the image forming unit forms the image based on the image data.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the correction unit adds an offset value, which is correction data for correcting a write position of the image, corresponding to a difference between the first light amount and the second light amount to correction data for correcting a relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the reading unit, and corrects the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the data to which the offset value is added.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pattern forming unit forms a plurality of density correction patterns with different densities on the image carrier by changing the light amount of the light beams, and controls the image forming unit so as to form the density correction patterns before formation of the misalignment detection pattern, and
wherein the light amount control unit controls the first light amount so as to form the misalignment detection pattern with a target density based on the reading result of the density correction pattern read by the pattern reading unit.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage unit configured to store data related to the upper limit value.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pattern forming unit is configured to control the image forming unit to form, on the image carrier, a detection pattern for controlling the second light amount of the light beams for forming the image based on the image data input from the external apparatus or the reading apparatus, and controls the second light amount of the light beams for forming the image based on the image data input from the external apparatus or the reading apparatus based on a reading result of the detection pattern obtained by the pattern reading unit.
7. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit including a plurality of photosensitive members, an exposure unit configured to irradiate each of the plurality of photosensitive members with a corresponding light beam, a light amount control unit configured to control a light amount of the light beams emitted from the exposure unit, a plurality of developing units configured to develop electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of photosensitive members by exposure with the light beams, by using different toners, and a transfer unit configured to transfer toner images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members onto an image carrier;
a pattern forming unit configured to control the image forming unit to form, on the image carrier, a misalignment detection pattern for detecting a relative misalignment between the toner images transferred onto the image carrier from the plurality of photosensitive members;
a pattern reading unit configured to read the misalignment detection pattern; and
a correction unit configured to correct the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the pattern reading unit,
wherein the light amount control unit is configured to control a maximum light amount of a first light amount of the light beams for forming the misalignment detection pattern to be higher than a maximum light amount of a second light amount of the light beams for forming an image based on image data input from an external apparatus or a reading apparatus.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming unit further comprises a deflection unit configured to deflect the light beams emitted from the exposure unit so as to scan the photosensitive members with the light beams, and not less than one synchronization signal output unit configured to output a synchronization signal in accordance with receiving the light beams deflected by the deflection unit, and
wherein the light amount control unit controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the first light amount for forming the misalignment detection pattern, in a case where the image forming unit forms the misalignment detection pattern, and controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the second light amount for forming the image based on image data, in a case where the image forming unit forms an image based on the image data.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in a case where the first light amount and the second light amount are controlled to be different light amounts, the correction unit adds an offset value, which is correction data for correcting a write position of the image, corresponding to a difference between the first light amount and the second light amount to correction data for correcting a relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the reading unit, and corrects the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the data to which the offset value is added.
10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pattern forming unit forms a plurality of density correction patterns with different densities on the image carrier by changing the light amount of the light beams, and controls the image forming unit so as to form the density correction patterns before formation of the misalignment detection pattern, and
wherein the light amount control unit sets the first light amount of the light beams for forming the misalignment detection pattern so as to form the misalignment detection pattern with a target density based on the reading result of the density correction pattern read by the pattern reading unit.
11. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a storage unit configured to store data related to the maximum light amounts of the light amounts of the light beams for forming the image based on the image data input from the external apparatus or the reading apparatus.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the pattern forming unit is configured to control the image forming unit to form, on the image carrier, a detection pattern for controlling the second light amount of the light beams for forming the image based on the image data input from the external apparatus or the reading apparatus, and controls the second light amount of the light beams for forming the image based on the image data input from the external apparatus or the reading apparatus based on a reading result of the detection pattern obtained by the pattern reading unit.
13. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit including a plurality of photosensitive members, an exposure unit configured to irradiate each of the plurality of photosensitive members with a corresponding light beam, a light amount control unit configured to control a light amount of the light beams emitted from the exposure unit, a plurality of developing units configured to develop electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of photosensitive members by exposure with the light beams, by using different toners, and a transfer unit configured to transfer toner images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members onto a transfer material conveyed by a conveyor;
a pattern forming unit configured to control the image forming unit to form, on the conveyor, a misalignment detection pattern for detecting a relative misalignment between the toner images transferred onto the transfer material from the plurality of photosensitive members;
a pattern reading unit configured to read the misalignment detection pattern; and
a correction unit configured to correct the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the pattern reading unit,
wherein the light amount control unit controls the light amount of the light beams which are exposed on the photosensitive members to a first light amount in order to form the misalignment detection pattern, and controls the light amount of the light beams to a second light amount in order to form an image based on image data from an external apparatus or a reading apparatus, wherein the first light amount is greater than the second light amount, and
wherein when the second light amount is controlled to an upper limit value, the light amount control unit controls the first light amount to a light amount greater than the upper limit value in order to form the misalignment detection pattern.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image forming unit further comprises a deflection unit configured to deflect the light beams emitted from the exposure unit so as to scan the photosensitive members with the light beams, and not less than one synchronization signal output unit configured to output a synchronization signal in accordance with receiving the light beams deflected by the deflection unit, and
wherein the light amount control unit controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the first light amount, in a case where the image forming unit forms the misalignment detection pattern, and controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the second light amount, in a case where the image forming unit forms the image based on the image data.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the correction unit adds an offset value, which is correction data for correcting a write position of the image, corresponding to a difference between the first light amount and the second light amount to correction data for correcting a relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the reading unit, and corrects the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the data to which the offset value is added.
16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the pattern forming unit forms a plurality of density correction patterns with different densities on the conveyor by changing the light amount of the light beams, and controls the image forming unit so as to form the density correction patterns before formation of the misalignment detection pattern, and
wherein the light amount control unit controls the first light amount so as to form the misalignment detection pattern with a target density based on the reading result of the density correction pattern read by the pattern reading unit.
17. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image forming unit including a plurality of photosensitive members, an exposure unit configured to irradiate each of the plurality of photosensitive members with a corresponding light beam, a light amount control unit configured to control a light amount of the light beams emitted from the exposure unit, a plurality of developing units configured to develop electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of photosensitive members by exposure to the light beams, by using different toners, and a transfer unit configured to transfer toner images formed on the plurality of photosensitive members onto a transfer material conveyed by a conveyor;
a pattern forming unit configured to control the image forming unit to form, on the conveyor, a misalignment detection pattern for detecting a relative misalignment between the toner images transferred onto the transfer material from the plurality of photosensitive members;
a pattern reading unit configured to read the misalignment detection pattern; and
a correction unit configured to correct the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the pattern reading unit,
wherein the light amount control unit is configured to control a maximum light amount of a first light amount of the light beams for forming the misalignment detection pattern to be higher than a maximum light amount of a second light amount of the light beams for forming an image based on image data input from an external apparatus or a reading apparatus.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image forming unit further comprises a deflection unit configured to deflect the light beams emitted from the exposure unit so as to scan the photosensitive members with the light beams, and not less than one synchronization signal output unit configured to output a synchronization signal by receiving the light beams deflected by the deflection unit, and
wherein the light amount control unit controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the first light amount for forming the misalignment detection pattern, in a case where the image forming unit forms the misalignment detection pattern, and controls the exposure unit so as to make the synchronization signal output unit receive the light beams of the second light amount for forming the image based on image data, in a case where the image forming unit forms an image based on the image data.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein in a case where the first light amount and the second light amount are controlled to be different light amounts, the correction unit adds an offset value, which is correction data for correcting a write position of the image, corresponding to a difference between the first light amount and the second light amount to correction data for correcting a relative misalignment between the toner images based on the reading result obtained by the reading unit, and corrects the relative misalignment between the toner images based on the data to which the offset value is added.
20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the pattern forming unit forms a plurality of density correction patterns with different densities on the conveyor by changing the light amount of the light beams, and controls the image forming unit so as to form the density correction patterns before formation of the misalignment detection pattern, and
wherein the light amount control unit sets the first light amount of the light beams for forming the misalignment detection pattern so as to form the misalignment detection pattern with a target density based on the reading result of the density correction pattern read by the pattern reading unit.

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 method for providing an indication of movement from a sensor signal of a position transmitter (9), the indication of movement indicating a speed, the sensor signal from the position transmitter (9) comprising a plurality of edges, the plurality of edges being alternating rising edges and falling edges, each rising or falling edge of the plurality of edges being generated by the sensor following a movement over a particular travel range, the method comprising:
determining (S1) a pulse duration (dT) as an interval of time between a most recent two edges of the plurality of edges of the sensor signal;
providing (S4, S6) the indication, when a time period corresponding to the pulse duration (dT) has elapsed since the most recent edge of the sensor signal;
wherein the indication is provided faster than an interval of time that would elapse between edges of the sensor signal at a predefined maximum speed.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, the indication which depends on the pulse duration (dT) being provided as the indication of movement if a time period corresponding to the pulse duration (dT) has not yet elapsed since the last edge.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, the indication being determined as a ratio between the particular travel range and the pulse duration (dT).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing the indication continuously.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indication depends on the pulse duration (dT).
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indication depends on a period since the last edge of the sensor signal.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising determining the indication as the ratio between the particular travel range and a time period elapsed since the last edge of the sensor signal.
8. The method as claimed claim 1, further comprising providing the indication at fixed time intervals.
9. A method for providing an indication of movement from a sensor signal from a position transmitter (9), the indication of movement indicating a speed, the sensor signal from the position transmitter (9) generating a plurality of edges, the plurality of edges being alternating rising edges and falling edges, each rising or falling of the plurality of edges generated following a movement over a particular travel range, the method comprising:
determining (S1) a pulse duration (dT) as an interval of time between a most recent two edges of the plurality of edges of the sensor signal;
providing (S4, S6) an indication based on of the pulse duration (dT) or an indication based on a time period since a last edge of the plurality of edges, when a time period corresponding to the pulse duration (dT) has elapsed since the most recent edge of the sensor signal;
wherein the indication of movement is determined as a ratio between the particular travel range and the pulse duration (dT) or as the ratio between the particular travel range and a time period elapsed since the last edge of the plurality of edges, and wherein the interval of time is shorter than an interval of time between the plurality of edges at a predefined maximum speed of movement.