Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning unit, a development device, and a control unit. The development device includes a toner collection mechanism having a developer carrier and a filter. The control unit is capable of executing a scattered toner recovery mode at non-image forming time, in which the filter is vibrated, a potential difference is generated in the direction for the toner to move from the developer carrier to the image carrier, the developer carrier is rotated in a reverse direction to that at image forming time, and the image carrier is rotated in the same direction as that at the image forming time, so that scattered toner, which has dropped from the filter and adhered to the developer carrier, is recovered by the cleaning unit via the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development device, and a control unit that controls the development device. The development device includes a toner collection mechanism having a duct, a filter, and an exhaust fan. The duct is connected to a conveyance chamber of the development container and allows air in the conveyance chamber to flow through. The filter is disposed at a connecting part between the duct and the conveyance chamber, and collects toner flowing into the duct from the conveyance chamber. The exhaust fan makes the air in the conveyance chamber flow to the outside via the duct. The control unit changes rotational frequency or operation frequency of the exhaust fan based on current detected by a current detection unit at non-image forming time.

Abstract: An estimation system generates, from a value of a time series of an estimation object in a past period, a plurality of patterns of a transition of a value of the estimation object. Based on the plurality of generated patterns and a value of a time series of a factor in the past period, the estimation system specifies a dependency relationship between a transition pattern and a value of the factor and a transition pattern at a past (or future) time point and identifies a model in accordance with the specified dependency relationship. By inputting a value of a time series of the factor in a future period to the estimation model, the estimation system specifies a time series of a value in the future period of the estimation object using at least one transition pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device that can be miniaturized or highly integrated is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first conductor, a second conductor over the first conductor, a first insulator covering the second conductor, a first oxide over the first insulator, and a second oxide over the first oxide, an opening overlapping with at least part of the first conductor is provided in the first oxide and the first insulator, and the second oxide is electrically connected to the first conductor through the opening.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes front-wheel and rear-wheel driving systems, and a control system. The front-wheel driving system includes a first travel motor mechanically coupled to a front wheel of a vehicle and a first accumulator electrically coupled to the first travel motor. The rear-wheel driving system includes a second travel motor mechanically coupled to a rear wheel of the vehicle and a second accumulator electrically coupled to the second travel motor. The control system includes one or more processors and one or more memories communicably coupled to the one or more processors, and controls the first and second travel motors. When a difference between an SOC of the first accumulator and an SOC of the second accumulator is greater than a threshold value, the one or more processors change a torque distribution ratio between the first and second travel motors from a reference distribution ratio.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material in which a capacity decrease caused by charge and discharge cycles is suppressed is provided. Alternatively, a positive electrode active material having a crystal structure that is unlikely to be broken by repeated charging and discharging is provided. The positive electrode active material contains titanium, nickel, aluminum, magnesium, and fluorine, and includes a region where titanium is unevenly distributed, a region where nickel is unevenly distributed, and a region where magnesium is unevenly distributed in a projection on its surface. Aluminum is preferably unevenly distributed in a surface portion, not in the projection, of the positive electrode active material.

Abstract: An analog demultiplexer circuit includes a clock distribution circuit that outputs clock signals (CK1P and CK1N) and clock signals (CK2P and CK2N) complementary thereto, a track-and-hold circuit that holds analog input signals (VINP and VINN) in synchronization with the clock signals (CK1P and CK1N), and a track-and-hold circuit that holds the analog input signals (VINP and VINN) in synchronization with the clock signals (CK2P and CK2N).

Abstract: A stack of electrical components has a first electrical component having a first surface, a second surface that is opposite to the first surface and a side surface that is located between the first surface and the second surface; a second electrical component having a third surface on which the first electrical component is mounted, the third surface facing the second surface and forming a corner portion between the third surface and the side surface; an adhesive layer that bonds the first electrical component to the second electrical component, the adhesive layer has a first portion that is located between the second and third surface and a second portion that is made of a same material as the first portion and that fills the corner portion; and a conductive layer that extends on a side of the side surface, curves along the second portion and extends to the third surface.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which, while image formation is prevented from being performed, scattered toner that has dropped from a filter and adhered to an outer peripheral surface of a developer carrying member is recovered by a cleaning unit through intermediation of an image bearing member. An absolute value of a perpendicular-magnetic-force gradient of a fixed magnet of the developer carrying member is 4.0 mT/° or less at a position where the fixed magnet faces a central portion of the filter in a rotation direction of a developing sleeve.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cleaning unit, a development device, and a control unit. The development device includes a toner collection mechanism having a developer carrier and a filter. The control unit is capable of executing a scattered toner recovery mode at non-image forming time, in which the filter is vibrated, a potential difference is generated in the direction for the toner to move from the developer carrier to the image carrier, the developer carrier is rotated in a reverse direction to that at image forming time, and the image carrier is rotated in the same direction as that at the image forming time, so that scattered toner, which has dropped from the filter and adhered to the developer carrier, is recovered by the cleaning unit via the image carrier.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus in which, while image formation is prevented from being performed, scattered toner that has dropped from a filter and adhered to an outer peripheral surface of a developer carrying member is recovered. A fixed magnet of the developer carrying member has a first pole that is arranged to face the filter, and a second pole and a third pole on a downstream side relative to the first pole. The first pole and the second pole have polarities opposite to each other, and the second pole and the third pole have a same polarity. A length of a gap between the developing container and an area where the developing sleeve faces the second pole among areas of the developing sleeve is smaller than a length between the developing sleeve and the filter.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that is capable of carrying out a scattered-toner recovery mode in which, while image formation is prevented from being performed, scattered toner that has dropped from a filter and adhered to an outer peripheral surface of a developer carrying member is recovered by a cleaning unit through intermediation of an image bearing member. A fixed magnet of the developer carrying member has a first pole that faces the image bearing member, a second pole that faces the filter, and an intermediate pole between the first pole and the second pole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a development device, and a control unit that controls the development device. The development device includes a toner collection mechanism having a duct, a filter, and an exhaust fan. The duct is connected to a conveyance chamber of the development container and allows air in the conveyance chamber to flow through. The filter is disposed at a connecting part between the duct and the conveyance chamber, and collects toner flowing into the duct from the conveyance chamber. The exhaust fan makes the air in the conveyance chamber flow to the outside via the duct. The control unit changes rotational frequency or operation frequency of the exhaust fan based on current detected by a current detection unit at non-image forming time.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store instructions, at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions to receive a photographing instruction, and an optical system configured to perform a first photographing method before reception of the photographing instruction, and a second photographing method after reception of the photographing instruction. The at least one processor further executes instructions to combine a plurality of first images at different in-focus positions captured by using the first photographing method with a plurality of second images at different in-focus positions captured by using the second photographing method. The optical system performs readout an image sensor, while keeping the drive of a focus lens, in the first photographing method, and stops the focus lens at different positions in the second photographing method.

Abstract: An analog demultiplexer circuit includes a clock distribution circuit that outputs clock signals (CK1P and CK1N) and clock signals (CK2P and CK2N) complementary thereto, a track-and-hold circuit that holds analog input signals (VINP and VINN) in synchronization with the clock signals (CK1P and CK1N), and a track-and-hold circuit that holds the analog input signals (VINP and VINN) in synchronization with the clock signals (CK2P and CK2N).

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a bottom cover, a main board provided with a stud, a screw, a washer, and a sponge. The screw has a head portion having a diameter larger than that of an attachment hole, a male screw portion configured to be screwed into a first female screw portion, and a columnar portion having a diameter smaller than a root diameter of the male screw portion. The washer has a flange portion having a diameter larger than that of the attachment hole, a cylindrical portion having a diameter smaller than that of the attachment hole, and a second female screw portion which the male screw portion is screwable into and passable through. The head portion abuts on the bottom cover to fix the bottom cover by the male screw portion. The flange portion is between the stud and the bottom cover.

Abstract: An optical transmitter includes an I-component optical modulation unit, a Q-component optical modulation unit, and a 2×2 optical coupler. The I-component optical modulation unit generates modulated light based on an I-component data signal. The Q-component optical modulation unit generates modulated light based on a Q-component data signal. The 2×2 optical coupler receives the modulated light generated by the I-component optical modulation unit from a first input port, receives the modulated light generated by the Q-component optical modulation unit from a second input port, generates two optical QAM signals having a phase conjugate relationship from the modulated light which has been input from the first input port and the modulated light which has been input from the second input port, outputs one of said two optical QAM signals from a first output port, and outputs the other one of said two optical QAM signals from a second output port.

Abstract: A scroll compressor includes a base seat portion which is integrally formed with one end surface of a shaft and in which a press-fitting hole exposing a first hole portion is formed. The base seat portion is disposed in a second portion of a penetration portion with a gap interposed between a drive bush body and the base seat portion.

Abstract: An outer-ring lubrication groove pattern formed in an outer-race raceway surface and an inner-race lubrication groove pattern formed in an inner-race raceway surface of a wave generator bearing of a strain wave gearing device are patterns in which linear lubrication grooves having very small widths and depths of several micrometers or less are arranged at fine pitches of several micrometers or less. The inner-race lubrication groove pattern includes a second groove pattern formed in long-axis-side inner-race raceway surface portions to hold the lubricant, and a first groove pattern formed in short-axis-side inner-race raceway surface portions to hold the lubricant and guide the lubricant to the second groove pattern. This configuration improves the contact state between balls and the inner-race and outer-race raceway surfaces of the wave generator bearing, thus reducing the coefficient of friction therebetween.

Abstract: In a strain wave gearing device, fine first and second lubricant-holding grooves for holding lubricant are formed at fine pitches in an outer-race external peripheral surface of a wave generator bearing and an outer-race-contacting internal peripheral surface portion of an externally toothed gear in contact therewith. Fine lubricant-guiding grooves for guiding the lubricant to the outer-race-contacting internal peripheral surface portion are formed at fine pitches in a second internal peripheral surface portion, which adjoins the outer-race-contacting internal peripheral surface portion, of an internal peripheral surface of the externally toothed gear. This configuration improves the contact state between the outer-race-contacting internal peripheral surface portion of the externally toothed gear and the outer-race external peripheral surface, thus suppressing fretting wear occurring in these surfaces.