Abstract: In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

Abstract: In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an imaging device, a top cover, a moving device, and a state holding device. The housing has a top opening formed on a top face of the housing and a side opening formed on a side face of the housing. The imaging device is housed in the housing and includes a photosensitive body, an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive body to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body, and a developing device which develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer on the photosensitive body. The top cover is movable between an open state opening the top opening and a close state closing the top opening, the exposure device being attached to an inner face of the top cover.

Abstract: An image forming device including: a platen glass on which a document is placed; a platen cover that presses and retains the document placed on the platen glass; an engagement portion provided at a side surface of the platen cover; a link component attached to a side surface of the device main body to be movable in a substantially vertical direction; a groove portion provided at an upper end portion of the link component, that engages with the engagement portion when the link component is moved substantially upward from a housed position thereof, whereby the platen cover opens or closes due to movement of the link component, and that does not engage with the engagement portion when the link component is at the housed position; and an operating portion provided to be positioned beneath the platen cover, for moving the link component in the substantially vertical direction, is provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an imaging device, a top cover, a moving device, and a state holding device. The housing has a top opening formed on a top face of the housing and a side opening formed on a side face of the housing. The imaging device is housed in the housing and includes a photosensitive body, an exposure device which exposes the photosensitive body to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body, and a developing device which develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer on the photosensitive body. The top cover is movable between an open state opening the top opening and a close state closing the top opening, the exposure device being attached to an inner face of the top cover.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a paper cassette, a registration roller pair, a first feed roller, and a second feed roller. In the paper feed apparatus, a pick-up unit is provided which is mounted to an image formation apparatus main body, and which has the registration roller pair, the first feed roller; a first guide part constituting a paper feeding path ranging from the first feed roller to the registration roller pair; a second guide part constituting a paper feeding path ranging from the second feed roller to the registration roller pair; and a paper feed base part that holds the registration roller pair, the first feed roller, the first guide part, the second feed roller, and the second guide part on the roller both end sides, respectively, for unitization.

Abstract: An image forming device including: a platen glass on which a document is placed; a platen cover that presses and retains the document placed on the platen glass; an engagement portion provided at a side surface of the platen cover; a link component attached to a side surface of the device main body to be movable in a substantially vertical direction; a groove portion provided at an upper end portion of the link component, that engages with the engagement portion when the link component is moved substantially upward from a housed position thereof, whereby the platen cover opens or closes due to movement of the link component, and that does not engage with the engagement portion when the link component is at the housed position; and an operating portion provided to be positioned beneath the platen cover, for moving the link component in the substantially vertical direction, is provided.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus includes a paper cassette, a registration roller pair, a first feed roller, and a second feed roller. In the paper feed apparatus, a pick-up unit is provided which is mounted to an image formation apparatus main body, and which has the registration roller pair, the first feed roller; a first guide part constituting a paper feeding path ranging from the first feed roller to the registration roller pair; a second guide part constituting a paper feeding path ranging from the second feed roller to the registration roller pair; and a paper feed base part that holds the registration roller pair, the first feed roller, the first guide part, the second feed roller, and the second guide part on the roller both end sides, respectively, for unitization.

Abstract: In service providing apparatus and method, system identification data for specifying a service target device and the user of the device concerned are issued to the device concerned, and authentication processing is carried out on the basis of the system identification data to provide a service to the device concerned.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible for a user to know the characteristics of a quantization table used for image compression. An apparatus and method are provided wherein image data compression software displays the compressed image data (expanded image data) according to the JPEG method expanded by a JPEG expansion unit on a display unit 20 through an image display IF 18. Moreover, the image data compression software 5 reflects all values of n×n quantization levels included in a quantization table (first quantization table) supplied from a block decoding section used to generate input JPEG data and displays quantization index value to be indexed (first quantization index value before changed) on the display unit 20.

Abstract: A coordinate input system to which control data (a displacement value), concerning the location and the posture of a displayed graphic object, can be input with a conventional coordinate pointing device, such as a mouse, and a method therefor. Coordinate values of three sequential input points P.sub.n, P.sub.n+1 and P.sub.n+2, which are entered with a coordinate pointing device, such as a mouse, are employed to calculate the central angle .angle.P.sub.n O.sub.n P.sub.n+2 relative to the arc P.sub.n P.sub.n+1 P.sub.n+2 of the circle O.sub.n circumscribed about these three points. Then, the angle .angle.P.sub.n O.sub.n P.sub.n+2 is employed to acquire the central angle .angle..theta..sub.n for the arc P.sub.n P.sub.n+1. A logic circuit or an upper-level program that waits for the input of the dial rotation value as control data employs the central angle .angle..theta..sub.n, which is acquired by inputting the coordinate values of the two sequential points P.sub.n and P.sub.

Abstract: A record and reproduction controlling device is connected to a hard disk memory via a bus. This controlling device receives from a computer information necessary for read/write operation, on the basis of which the controlling device performs its own process to write to or read from the hard disk. The record and reproduction controlling device temporarily stores tone data read out from the hard disk memory into a first buffer memory and then transfers the tone data from the first buffer memory to a second buffer memory. The tone data thus stored in the second memory is then read out at a predetermined readout rate to reproduce a musical sound. It is possible to select either a first reproduction mode for reproducing a data file having tone data of plural channels recorded in an interleaved state, or a second reproduction mode for permitting a simultaneous reproduction of plural data files each having not-interleaved tone data recorded therein.

Abstract: An electronic ballast for hot cathode discharge lamp comprises a DC voltage source, a chopper, and an inverter. The chopper includes a switching element connected in series with an inductor across the DC voltage and driven to turn on and off for providing a periodically interrupted voltage which is smoothed by a capacitor to produce a smoothed DC voltage as a chopper output. The inverter includes at least one switching element which is coupled to the chopper output to produce therefrom a high frequency AC voltage as an inverter output to be applied to cathodes of the discharge lamp for lighting the discharge lamp. The ballast is characterized to include an inverter controller and a delay circuit. The inverter controller controls the inverter to operate selectively in a normal mode of providing the inverter output of a first level and in a limited mode of providing the inverter output of a second level which is lower than the first level and is determined to give a preheating current to the cathodes.

Abstract: A record and reproduction controlling device is connected to a hard disk memory via a bus. This controlling device receives from a computer information necessary for read/write operation, on the basis of which the controlling device performs its own process to write to or read from the hard disk. The record and reproduction controlling device temporarily stores tone data read out from the hard disk memory into a first buffer memory and then transfers the tone data from the first buffer memory to a second buffer memory. The tone data thus stored in the second memory is then read out at a predetermined readout rate to reproduce a musical sound. It is possible to select either a first reproduction mode for reproducing a data file having tone data of plural channels recorded in an interleaved state, or a second reproduction mode for permitting a simultaneous reproduction of plural data files each having not-interleaved tone data recorded therein.

Abstract: A record and reproduction controlling device is connected to a hard disk memory via a bus. This controlling device receives from a computer information necessary for read/write operation, on the basis of which the controlling device performs its own process to write to or read from the hard disk. The record and reproduction controlling device temporarily stores tone data read out from the hard disk memory into a first buffer memory and then transfers the tone data from the first buffer memory to a second buffer memory. The tone data thus stored in the second memory is then read out at a predetermined readout rate to reproduce a musical sound. It is possible to select either a first reproduction mode for reproducing a data file having tone data of plural channels recorded in an interleaved state, or a second reproduction mode for permitting a simultaneous reproduction of plural data files each having not-interleaved tone data recorded therein.

Abstract: A power supply for driving one or more loads includes a DC voltage source, an inverter connected to the DC voltage source for providing a high frequency AC voltage at its output end, and an output transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is coupled to the output end of the inverter through a tuning inductor, while the secondary winding is coupled to the load. A tuning capacitor, which constitutes a resonant circuit in cooperation with the resonance inductance for supplying a resonance current to the load, is connected across the secondary winding of the output transformer in parallel relation to the load. The tuning capacitor is arranged in circuit on the opposite side of the secondary winding from the load such that the tuning capacitor is open-circuited when the load is disconnected from the secondary winding.

Abstract: A power supply with an inverter capable of avoiding the inverter from producing excessive high voltage when a load is detached or the load impedance is greatly increased. The inverter is energized by a fixed DC voltage source and includes at least one switching element and an L-C resonant circuit. The switching element is driven to turn on and off and cooperative with the L-C resonant circuit to produce a high frequency AC voltage at an inverter output for driving a load. The inverter includes first and second clamping diodes connected in series across the DC voltage source in anti-parallel relation thereto with the first and second diodes defining therebetween a first connection point. Also included in the inverter is a pair of first and second impedance elements which are connected in series across the inverter output to provide a divided voltage indicative of an output voltage of the inverter with the first and second impedance elements defining therebetween a second connection point.