Abstract: In a portable terminal having an IC card, the outstanding SF value, the commuter pass information and the conditions for the corresponding operation to charge the SF value or renew the validity period of the commuter pass are stored in the IC card. The outstanding SF value and the validity period of the commuter pass are checked at a predetermined timing. In the case where the outstanding SF value and the validity period satisfy the conditions for the corresponding operation (in the case where the outstanding SF value is reduced to less than a predetermined amount, for example), the set corresponding operation is performed. Thus, a predetermined amount is charged against the outstanding SF value, or the oncoming expiry of the validity period of the commuter pass is notified. The conditions for the corresponding operation can be set and changed appropriately at the portable terminal.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: The invention realizes a uniform toner coating on a developing roller, thereby preventing a density unevenness and a toner dripping and suppressing a developing roller set mark image in a contact developing method, by conditions that the DC voltage applied to the developer regulating member is the same as the DC voltage applied to the developer carrying member or at a side of a charging polarity of the developer with respect to the DC voltage applied to the developer carrying member; and a frequency f (Hz) and a peak electric field strength E (V/m) of the AC electric field formed by the AC voltage between the developer regulating member and the developer carrying member, and a peripheral speed v (m/s) of the image bearing member satisfy conditions: 4.2×v?f?2500 and 2.2×106?E?5.2×106.

Abstract: A biometric authentication apparatus for identifying a subject person by using biometric information of a user has memories and a processing unit for performing biometric authentication. The memories and store a remaining trial number whose value is reduced each time biometric authentication fails. The processing unit generates a lower limit value smaller than the remaining trial number at the start of biometric authentication, performs biometric authentication until the reduced remaining trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value, and generate alarm data for issuing alarm to the user when the reduced trial number becomes equal to or smaller than the lower limit value.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: A developing apparatus including a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image, formed on an image bearing member, with the developer, a developer regulating member for regulating the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and an oscillating electric field forming device which forms an oscillating electric field between the developer carrying member and the developer regulating member, wherein a developer consuming operation is executed for consuming the developer from the developer carrying member to an image non-forming area of the image bearing member and a period of forming the oscillating electric field is provided in the operation.

Abstract: The invention realizes a uniform toner coating on a developing roller, thereby preventing a density unevenness and a toner dripping and suppressing a developing roller set mark image in a contact developing method, by conditions that the DC voltage applied to the developer regulating member is the same as the DC voltage applied to the developer carrying member or at a side of a charging polarity of the developer with respect to the DC voltage applied to the developer carrying member; and a frequency f (Hz) and a peak electric field strength E (V/m) of the AC electric field formed by the AC voltage between the developer regulating member and the developer carrying member, and a peripheral speed v (m/s) of the image bearing member satisfies conditions: 4.2×v?f?2500 and 2.2×106?E?5.2×106.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices each including a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member, and a developer regulating member for regulating the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a common voltage applying device for applying a common voltage to the plurality of the developer regulating member. When a first one of the developer carrying members is rotating, and when a second one of the developer carrying members is not rotating, a potential difference between a potential of the second developer carrying member and the common voltage is smaller than a potential difference between a potential of the first developer carrying member and the common voltage.

Abstract: A video delivery system and method which can reduce the amount of data stream to be transmitted without damaging a reproduced image when a screen is partially concealed in paid digital broadcasting.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus and a method for producing a printed circuit board wherein, the whole pattern including pieces 10 and coupons 12 to be exposed on a print circuit board 2 is depicted on a photo mask 1 divided in six areas by divide line 19, the exposure will be made with respect to the each divided area of the photo mask 1 mounted on a movable photo mask stage 5 with using a masking device 3 masking other area than the exposing area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices, each of which includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with a developer, and a developer regulating member for regulating the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a common voltage applying device for applying voltages to the developer regulating members, wherein the voltages are applied to the developer carrying members are variable independently from each other, and when at least one of the voltages varies, the voltage applied by the voltage applying device is capable of being changed.

Abstract: In a settlement transaction system or settlement transaction method using the system, the system includes a content providing server conducting a digital broadcast, for example, for a CS broadcast, a BS broadcast, a CATV, or a broadcast using ground waves; a settlement server to execute settlement transaction or settlement transaction, an order placement managing server to execute order placement processing, and an order managing server which receives an order of a request from a user to purchase articles and which sends an associated indication to the settlement server and the order placement managing server according to information of the order. The user operates a terminal in which an IC card communication application to communicate with an IC card is only installed. It then becomes possible to reduce a load imposed onto the system in association with a change to an existing digital broadcast system.

Abstract: A CATV conditional access system equipped with a digital head end which transmits picture signals of digital programs in a batch mode to terminals provided within a plurality of areas. This digital head end transmits area codes for the respective areas and data about a list table to the terminals employed in the plural areas. In this list table, digital programs of not-yet-provided services for the respective areas are indicated. The area codes are used to recognize such areas belonging to the own terminals. Each of the terminals excludes the picture signal of the digital program of the not-yet-provided service in the related area by identifying the area code with the list table of the not-yet-service digital channel.

Abstract: In a CATV system, a digital head end transmits both an area code and such data containing a management number and a channel contrastive table to a terminal of each of areas; each terminal stores thereinto both the area code and the channel contrastive table; and the digital head end retrieves the corresponding management number by comparing a channel display number of an analog program set every area with the channel contrastive table based on this area code, and then, displays the analog program of this retrieved management number.

Abstract: A developing apparatus including a developer carrying member for carrying a developer for developing an electrostatic image, formed on an image bearing member, with the developer, a developer regulating member for regulating the developer carried on the developer carrying member, and an oscillating electric field forming device which forms an oscillating electric field between the developer carrying member and the developer regulating member, wherein a developer consuming operation is executed for consuming the developer from the developer carrying member to an image non-forming area of the image bearing member and a period of forming the oscillating electric field is provided in the operation.

Abstract: In a portable terminal having an IC card, the outstanding SF value, the commuter pass information and the conditions for the corresponding operation to charge the SF value or renew the validity period of the commuter pass are stored in the IC card. The outstanding SF value and the validity period of the commuter pass are checked at a predetermined timing. In the case where the outstanding SF value and the validity period satisfy the conditions for the corresponding operation (in the case where the outstanding SF value is reduced to less than a predetermined amount, for example), the set corresponding operation is performed. Thus, a predetermined amount is charged against the outstanding SF value, or the oncoming expiry of the validity period of the commuter pass is notified. The conditions for the corresponding operation can be set and changed appropriately at the portable terminal.

Abstract: Information recorded by an application provider in an IC card can be referred to, read out or changed by another application provider. The IC card has a plurality of cipher keys for reading out or writing the information recorded in the IC card, and provides a cipher key conversion function for encryption with a file capable of being managed, read out or written by the application provider himself using the cipher key. By the cipher key conversion function, data can be read out or written from or in the file of the other application provider.

Abstract: Image data which includes a plurality of object unit image data arranged in time series, such as field images, is supplied from an image source. The object unit image data subjected to the smoothing process is divided into blocks of a predetermined size. Then, a difference between the object unit image data and preceding unit image data which is immediately before the object unit image data, and a difference between the object unit image data and subsequent unit image data which is immediately after the object unit image data are determined for a plurality of blocks, based on a pixel value. The object unit image data is smoothed with one of the preceding unit image data and the subsequent unit image data having a smaller difference. Thus, since the object unit image data is always smoothed with the unit image data having the smallest difference, effective noise elimination can be performed, with preventing an adverse effect caused by the smoothing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of developing devices, each of which includes a developer carrying member for carrying a developer to develop an electrostatic image formed on an image bearing member with a developer, and a developer regulating member for regulating the developer carried on the developer carrying member; common voltage applying means for applying voltages to the developer regulating members, wherein the voltages applied to the developer carrying members are variable independently from each other, and when at least one of the voltages varies, the voltage applied by said voltage applying means is capable of being changed.