Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit including a tubular film, a pressure roller, and a heater including a heating element. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to calculate an accumulated electrical energy supplied to a portion of the heating element. The portion of the heating element is located in an area corresponding to a second area of the nip portion. The second area is an area of the nip portion through which the recording material conveyed to the nip portion is not passed. The control unit is configured to determine an operation of heat leveling, which is performed for leveling a heat distribution in the nip portion after the recording material had passed the nip portion, based on the calculated accumulated electrical energy.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for a cabin camera is provided. The mounting assembly includes a camera housing for the camera. The mounting assembly further includes a headliner mount removably coupled to the camera housing. The headliner mount includes a base and one or more retention members hingably coupled to the base. The one or more retention members are movable relative to the base to selectively secure the headliner mount to a headliner of a vehicle.

Abstract: An adjustable scoop includes a scoop body and a plunger. The scoop body has a cylindrical interior sidewall, a hollow interior, an open top, and an open bottom. The plunger is arranged in the interior of the scoop body such that a top surface of the plunger faces the open top. A volume of the interior of the scoop body above the plunger defines a volume of the adjustable scoop. The plunger is rotatable in the interior of the scoop body to adjust the volume of the adjustable scoop. The plunger includes a first engagement element, and a surface of the interior sidewall of the scoop body includes a second engagement element extending from the surface. The first and second engagement elements mutually cooperate to translate rotation of the plunger to adjustment of the volume of the adjustable scoop.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes a casing, a camera assembly, an adjustment element, a first stopping structure and a second stopping structure. The camera assembly is disposed within the casing. A portion of the camera assembly is exposed outside the casing. The adjustment element is connected with the camera assembly, and rotatable relative to the casing. As the adjustment element is rotated, the camera assembly is correspondingly rotated. The adjustment element includes a contacting structure. The first stopping structure and the second stopping structure are arranged between the casing and the adjustment element and located at different positions. When the camera assembly is switched to a horizontal photographing mode, the contacting structure is positioned at the first stopping structure. When the camera assembly is switched to a vertical photographing mode, the contacting structure is positioned at the second stopping structure.

Abstract: A gimbal for supporting a load includes at least three rotatably coupled driving axis assemblies and a controller. Each driving axis assembly includes a driving device and a joint arm configured to rotate when driven by the driving device. The controller is configured to control the gimbal to limit a rotation of a first driving axis assembly, and adjust positions of a second driving axis assembly and a third driving axis assembly, respectively, relative to the load, such that the gimbal maintains a forward orientation of the load.

Abstract: An accessory includes a plurality of communication contacts that includes a first contact, and a control unit that notifies an electronic apparatus of a communication request by changing a signal level of the first contact from a first signal level to a second signal level different from the first signal level, and transmits information indicating a communication factor in response to a reception of a request for the information indicating the communication factor in response to a notification of the communication request. In a case where the control unit notifies the electronic apparatus of the communication request via the first contact in response to a start of a power supply, the control unit performs predetermined communication without receiving the request for the information indicating the communication factor or transmitting the information indicating the communication factor.

Abstract: Provided herein is generally tubular container, preferably including a plurality of reservoirs defined therein. The container can be adapted for acoustic ejection of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs. Alternatively, the container can be adapted for extraction of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs using a non-acoustic liquid handling method.

Abstract: In the case of a mobile device (P) for moving a receiving device which is arranged on a support column (46.1, 46.2) and this support column (46.1, 46.2) is assigned a base (1), the support column (46.1, 46.2) is to be held on the base (1) by a clamping device (K).

Abstract: A position sensor includes a detector and a signal processor. The detector includes: a sensor chip having a surface; a first detection element disposed at the surface of the sensor chip; and a second detection element disposed at the surface of the sensor chip. The signal processor processes a signal input from the detector. The first detection element outputs a first detection signal corresponding to a position of a detection target, based on a change in a magnetic field received from the detection target. The second detection element outputs a second detection signal corresponding to the position of the detection target, based on the change in the magnetic field received from the detection target. A center of balance of the first detection element coincides with a center of balance of the second detection element.

Abstract: A heating device for heating a medium on which an image can be formed includes a cylindrical belt, a first heating unit, and a second heating unit. The first and second heating units are inside the cylindrical belt and face an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A controller is configured to control the heating units to generate heat. When the medium is to be heated to reach an image fixing temperature at which the image can be fixed to the medium, the controller controls the first and second heating units to both generate heat. After the medium is heated to the image fixing temperature, the controllers control the first heating unit to generate heat, but not the second heating unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a plurality of terminals including a terminal used for electrical connection with an accessory, and a first mount portion connectable with a second mount portion on the accessory. With the accessory and the image capturing apparatus detachably attached, a first terminal is configured to output a signal from the image capturing apparatus to the accessory, a second terminal is configured to input a signal output from the accessory to the image capturing apparatus, and a third terminal is configured to supply first power to the accessory. A second signal is detected as a signal input to the second terminal when a first signal is output to the first terminal. When it is detected that the second signal is a signal changing in synchronization with the first signal, the first power is supplied to the accessory via the third terminal.

Abstract: A tethered imaging camera encapsulated in a shell lens element of such camera enables viewing from inside and imaging of a biological organ in/from a variety of directions. A portion of camera's optical system together with light source(s) and optical detector mutually cooperated by housing structure inside the shell are moveable/re-orientable within the shell to vary a desired view of the object space without interruption of imaging process. A tether carries electrical but not optical signals to and from the camera and controllable traction cords to move the camera, and a hand-control unit and/or electronic circuitry configured to operate the camera and power its movements. Method(s) of using optical, optoelectronic, and optoelectromechanical sub-systems of the camera.

Abstract: A camera module includes: a housing; a first frame rotatably mounted in the housing; a second frame rotatably mounted on the first frame; a reflective member mounted on the second frame; a first driver including a first magnet installed on either one of the housing and the first frame, and a first coil opposing the first magnet; and a second driver including a second magnet installed on either one of the housing and the second frame, and a second coil opposing the second magnet. The first frame is configured to rotate in a first axial direction perpendicular to an incident direction of light incident to the reflective member. The second frame is configured to rotate in a second axial direction parallel to an incident direction of light incident to the reflective member.

Abstract: A rail element (10, 33) for a camera slider system or, more generally, a tube joiner for a rail comprised of an expansion device (23, 30), located internally at an open end (12, 32) of a tubular body (11, 33). The expansion device is configured to fit within a male part or joiner element (16, 31) that may be inserted into the end of the tube (10, 33) and can be actuated to an expanded state where it exerts force radially outwards through the joiner (16, 31) to hold it against the open end (12, 32), thereby joining two tubular or rail element ends together.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed in the present specification relate to devices, systems, and methods using the same that generate cigarette smoke and then separate and collect substances of the cigarette smoke generated into particulate and gaseous substances for the preparation of a whole cigarette smoke condensate, which may comprise: a cigarette mount on which one or more cigarettes are mounted; an automatic ignition device for igniting the one or more cigarettes; a cigarette smoke collection unit for collecting substances of cigarette smoke generated from the ignited one or more cigarettes; one or more cigarette smoke intake lines configured to suck the cigarette smoke; one or more cigarette smoke exhaust lines configured to discharge the cigarette smoke; and one or more collection unit connecting lines connected to the cigarette smoke collection unit.

Abstract: A camera module having a high resolution, high optical performance, and a reduced size, an optical apparatus including the camera module, and a method for manufacturing a camera module 1 are provided. The camera module 1 mounted on an optical apparatus such as a camera 60 includes an unit optical system UL including a primary reflection mirror 12 as a first reflection member and a secondary reflection mirror 13 as a second reflection member sequentially from an object side along an optical axis and configured to form an image of an object, an image sensor 14 configured to capture the image formed by the unit optical system UL, and a plurality of unit blocks 10 each including the unit optical system UL and the image sensor 14.

Abstract: A lens selector for selectively exposing one camera lens and covering other camera lenses of a cell phone or the like is shown and described. The lens selector comprises a base which grips the cell phone and a lens cover movable between two or more positions. The lens cover may slide along the base when moving between positions. An arm resiliently biased into an engaged positions may lock the lens cover into a selected position on the base. The lens selector may substantially cover that side of the cell phone having lenses, and may grip edges of the cell phone. The lens selector may include a socket for centering an associated cell phone with respect to an optical device such as a spotting scope, so that the cell phone may capture images visible through the scope.

Abstract: An accessory configured to be detachably mountable to an image pickup apparatus including a first mount portion including first bayonet claw portions, and first terminals, the accessory including a second mount portion including second bayonet claw portions configured to enable engagement with the first bayonet claw portions, and second terminals configured to enable contact with the first terminals, in which the second terminals are provided at positions that are different from positions of the second bayonet claw portions, and wherein, a half line that extends from a central axis of the second mount portion and passes through a second terminal that determines whether an optical apparatus is mounted on the image pickup apparatus or not, passes through a predetermined second bayonet claw portion.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a movable portion, a fixed portion configured to hold the movable portion, and a controller configured to control a position of the movable portion relative to the fixed portion. At least part of the outer surface of the movable portion is a spherical surface. The fixed portion includes a plurality of vibrators configured to press and contact the spherical surface of the movable portion and to rotate the movable portion, and a pressure receiver configured to hold pressure contact states of the plurality of vibrators against the movable portion. The movable portion is held by the plurality of vibrators and the pressure receiver, and a spherical center of the spherical surface of the movable portion is located between a plane passing through the plurality of vibrators and the pressure receiver.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates generally to reflective displays, and more particularly to reflective displays configured to display images with customized and improved viewing parameters. In one aspect, a reflective display comprises a plurality of light-reflective microfacets configured to display an image by reflecting light incident thereon from a light source, wherein light rays reflected by different ones of the microfacets are directed in non-parallel directions.