Abstract: A display apparatus comprises: a rear plate which has an electron-emitting device; a face plate which has an anode electrode and a potential defining electrode; and a plate spacer which is opposite to the anode electrode and the potential defining electrode, between the rear plate and the face plate. An insulative base member of the spacer has a recessed portion which opposes to the anode electrode, the potential defining electrode, and a portion of the face plate between the anode electrode and the potential defining electrode. Thus, electric discharges between the spacer and the anode electrode and between the spacer and the potential defining electrode can be suppressed.

Abstract: A printed wiring board includes a first insulation layer, a first conductive circuit formed on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer formed on the first insulation layer and the first conductive circuit and having an opening portion reaching the first conductive circuit, a second conductive circuit formed on the second insulation layer, and a via conductor formed in the opening portion and connecting the first conductive circuit and the second conductive circuit. The via conductor is formed an inner-wall surface of the opening portion and has a seed layer including a nitride compound and/or a carbide compound containing Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta or Si and a plated-metal film formed in the opening portion, and the plated-metal film and the first conductive circuit have at least portions making direct contact.

Abstract: An oral cavity insertion instrument which is to be attached to a monitor device having a long scope portion is provided. The oral cavity insertion instrument is adapted to be used by being inserted into an oral cavity and has a long cover member having a bore which extends in a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the scope portion of the monitor is adapted to be inserted into the bore. The oral cavity insertion instrument also has a long tongue depressor in the form of a plate. The tongue depressor is provided adjacent to and in contact with the cover member along the longitudinal direction thereof. The oral cavity insertion instrument includes an attachment unit used to attach the cover member to the monitor device. The tongue depressor includes a tip end having a width greater than that of the cover member. A pharyngoscope apparatus provided with the oral cavity insertion instrument is also provided.

Abstract: An interface for enabling a user to quickly access contact information automatically displays a list of expected contacts that are most likely to be selected by the user when attention is directed to a type-in line requiring contact information. When a contact is selected, the corresponding and appropriate contact information is automatically entered into the type-in line. If a user does not select a listed contact, but instead begins manually typing in the contact information then the interface performs a search and displays a list of unexpected contacts having contact information matching the typed input from the user. The interface also provides a menu with additional search options for searching for desired contact information. The additional search options include directory searching and filtered searching. The application hosting the interface can specify the appropriate contact information that it requires.

Abstract: A discomfort index, S, is calculated with an equation, S=0.3135×(Loudness value)+3.4824×(Tonality value)?3.1460. This equation uses a loudness value and a tonality value, both psychoacoustic parameters obtained from a sound from the image forming apparatus at a location 1.00 m±0.03 m apart from an end of the image forming apparatus. A sound caused at the time of charging an image carrier is improved so that the discomfort index S satisfies S<?0.5.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus includes evaluating, based on a pair comparison method, sounds generated when forming an image, carrying out a multiple linear regression analysis using a difference between scores of the evaluation as a target variable and a difference between psycho-acoustic parameter values as an explanatory variable, deriving formula concerning the difference in scores of sound quality from a result of the analysis, substituting an average of the psycho-acoustic parameter values used to derive the formula into the formula, defining discomfort of the sound when all the parameter values are average values as zero, and deriving a sound quality evaluation formula, and designing each unit of the apparatus based on the sound quality evaluation formula.

Abstract: A discomfort index of sound is obtained by an equation using the loudness value, sharpness value, tonality value and impulsiveness value of psychoacoustic parameters obtained from sounds at a position away from the end face of an image formation apparatus by 1 m. The discomfort index is decreased by reducing the high frequency component, charging noise, metallic impulsive sound and the like of the image formation apparatus, to thereby contribute to the improvement of the use environment.

Abstract: In an image formation apparatus, a discomfort probability P, calculated from an expression (a), fulfills a condition (b). Here, {circumflex over (P)}im=1/{1+exp [?z]}??(a) {circumflex over (P)}im?0.2725·ln(ppm)?0.6331??(b) where z=A×sound pressure level i+B×loudness i+C×sharpness i+D×tonality i+E×impulsiveness i+F, i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n, A, B, C, D, and E are regression coefficients of parameters, and F is intercept, and A, B, C, D, E, and F satisfy the inequalities 0.142?A?0.183, 0.300?B?0.389, 1.097?C?1.265, 9.818?D?11.516, 2.588?E?3.240, ?18.844?F?14.968, ppm is a printing speed per minute for A4 horizontal size paper.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus includes evaluating, based on a pair comparison method, sounds generated when forming an image, carrying out a multiple linear regression analysis using a difference between scores of the evaluation as a target variable and a difference between psycho-acoustic parameter values as an explanatory variable, deriving formula concerning the difference in scores of sound quality from a result of the analysis, substituting an average of the psycho-acoustic parameter values used to derive the formula into the formula, defining discomfort of the sound when all the parameter values are average values as zero, and deriving a sound quality evaluation formula, and designing each unit of the apparatus based on the sound quality evaluation formula.

Abstract: An interface for enabling a user to quickly access contact information automatically displays a list of expected contacts that are most likely to be selected by the user when attention is directed to a type-in line requiring contact information. When a contact is selected, the corresponding and appropriate contact information is automatically entered into the type-in line. If a user does not select a listed contact, but instead begins manually typing in the contact information then the interface performs a search and displays a list of unexpected contacts having contact information matching the typed input from the user. The interface also provides a menu with additional search options for searching for desired contact information. The additional search options include directory searching and filtered searching. The application hosting the interface can specify the appropriate contact information that it requires.

Abstract: A discomfort index of sound is obtained by an equation using the loudness value, sharpness value, tonality value and impulsiveness value of psychoacoustic parameters obtained from sounds at a position away from the end face of an image formation apparatus by 1m. The discomfort index is decreased by reducing the high frequency component, charging noise, metallic impulsive sound and the like of the image formation apparatus, to thereby contribute to the improvement of the use environment.

Abstract: In an image formation apparatus, a discomfort probability P, calculated from an expression (a), fulfills a condition (b).

Abstract: A discomfort index of sound is obtained by an equation using the loudness value, sharpness value, tonality value and impulsiveness value of psychoacoustic parameters obtained from sounds at a position away from the end face of an image formation apparatus by 1 m. The discomfort index is decreased by reducing the high frequency component, charging noise, metallic impulsive sound and the like of the image formation apparatus, to thereby contribute to the improvement of the use environment.

Abstract: A discomfort index of sound is obtained by an equation using the loudness value, sharpness value, tonality value and impulsiveness value of psychoacoustic parameters obtained from sounds at a position away from the end face of an image formation apparatus by 1 m. The discomfort index is decreased by reducing the high frequency component, charging noise, metallic impulsive sound and the like of the image formation apparatus, to thereby contribute to the improvement of the use environment.

Abstract: A discomfort index, S, is calculated with an equation, S=0.3135×(Loudness value)+3.4824×(Tonality value)−3.1460. This equation uses a loudness value and a tonality value, both psychoacoustic parameters obtained from a sound from the image forming apparatus at a location 1.00 m±0.03 m apart from an end of the image forming apparatus. A sound caused at the time of charging an image carrier is improved so that the discomfort index S satisfies S<−0.5.

Abstract: A method of improving the quality of sounds produced from a device provided with a mechanical drive mechanism and the like is provided. In this method, by using either one of or both of units for suppressing noise of a noise source produced in said device and of its transmission path, a discomfort index S of a sound obtained by inputting a value of loudness and a value of sharpness of psychological sound parameters obtained from a sound at a position apart by 1 meter from the exterior of said device into the following equation (a): S=0.01024269×(loudness value)2+0.30996744×(sharpness value)−2.1386517  (a) will satisfy the following condition (b): S<−0.

Abstract: A method of improving the quality of sounds produced from a device provided with a mechanical drive mechanism and the like is provided.

Abstract: A paper handling device for an image forming apparatus accurately positions paper sheets having been driven out of the apparatus with their center being in register with a reference at a predetermined position for executing stapling or similar processing. The device shifts the discharged paper sheets to a one-side reference position while truing them up at a center reference position. Therefore, the paper sheets are located at the one-side reference position with accuracy and thereby stapled or otherwise processed accurately. The device simplifies the movement of an instrument for implementing such processing. A stack of discharged sheets, whether they are so processed or not, can be readily taken out from the device with no regard to the paper size. A pair of paper guide members urge paper sheets in such a manner as to enhance further accurate positioning of the latter.

Abstract: A copying apparatus operable in a two-side copy mode has two exclusive switchback transport paths which are selectively usable for refeeding paper sheets each carrying an image on one side thereof from a refeed tray. One of the switchback transport paths is assigned to paper sheets of size A4 and smaller sizes which are fed sideways, while the other is assigned to paper sheets of sizes greater than A4.

Abstract: An useful method of producing a lot of bearings in the form of a press worked bush is initiated with production of blanks having four corner edges chamfered. In the notch forming and cutting die section comprising upper and lower die halves a strip of metallic material that is called hoop is pressed stepwise to form a plurality of V-shaped notches of which depth increases stepwise toward the outlet of the die section. On completion of forming of notches the hoop is cut off at the center of the last V-shaped notch with the aid of a pair of cutting tools. The die assembly usable for carrying out the method includes an U-bending die section and a circle bending die section which are located in series.