Abstract: An image forming apparatus has plural image forming stations along a travel direction of a transfer medium. Each image forming station has a latent image carrier that rotates in a sub scanning direction, an image writer that forms a latent image on the latent image carrier and a developer that has a toner carrier extending along a main scanning direction approximately perpendicular to the sub scanning direction. Each image writer has a line head near the latent image carrier with light emitting elements arranged in a row along the main scanning direction. Rotation drive force developing at one common motor is transmitted to plural places in sections of the apparatus to superimpose toner images one atop the other. A motor main section of the common motor overlaps the transfer medium in the in-plane arrangement viewed from a vertical direction perpendicular to both the main and sub scanning directions.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image forming stations, each including a photo conductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing member which develops the latent image as a visible toner image, and a single motor pinion which drives both of the photo conductor and the developing member, and a transfer belt, onto which the toner image is transferred, and which is driven by the single motor pinion of a first one of the image forming stations.

Abstract: An image-forming method performed in an image forming apparatus which includes: a first memory, storing first information indicative of a first factor causing color shift; and a detachable process cartridge, provided with an image carrier and a second memory storing second information indicative of a second factor causing the color shift, the method including: reading out the first information and the second information when the image forming apparatus recognizes an attachment of the process cartridge, obtaining an estimated color shift caused by the first factor and the second factor, based on the first information and the second information; judging whether the estimated color shift is within a predetermined range; and performing an initialization of the process cartridge when it is judged that the estimated color shift is within the predetermined range.

Abstract: A scanner with a compact scan engine having a light source for generating a light beam is provided, optionally with a polygon scan mirror as well. A seat with the compact scan engine attached thereto is utilized, and the scan engine is significantly smaller than the scanner housing.

Abstract: A scanner with a compact scan engine having a light source for generating a light beam is provided, optionally with a polygon scan mirror as well. A seat with the compact scan engine attached thereto is utilized, and the scan engine is significantly smaller than the scanner housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has plural image forming stations along a travel direction of a transfer medium. Each image forming station has a latent image carrier that rotates in a sub scanning direction, an image writer that forms a latent image on the latent image carrier and a developer that has a toner carrier extending along a main scanning direction approximately perpendicular to the sub scanning direction. Each image writer has a line head near the latent image carrier with light emitting elements arranged in a row along the main scanning direction. Rotation drive force developing at one common motor is transmitted to plural places in sections of the apparatus to superimpose toner images one atop the other. A motor main section of the common motor overlaps the transfer medium in the in-plane arrangement viewed from a vertical direction perpendicular to both the main and sub scanning directions.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus, comprising: a plurality of image forming stations, each including a photo conductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing member which develops the latent image as a visible toner image, and a single motor pinion which drives both of the photo conductor and the developing member, and a transfer belt, onto which the toner image is transferred, and which is driven by the single motor pinion of a first one of the image forming stations.

Abstract: An image-forming method performed in an image forming apparatus which includes: a first memory, storing first information indicative of a first factor causing color shift; and a detachable process cartridge, provided with an image carrier and a second memory storing second information indicative of a second factor causing the color shift, the method including: reading out the first information and the second information when the image forming apparatus recognizes an attachment of the process cartridge, obtaining an estimated color shift caused by the first factor and the second factor, based on the first information and the second information; judging whether the estimated color shift is within a predetermined range; and performing an initialization of the process cartridge when it is judged that the estimated color shift is within the predetermined range.

Abstract: A time keeping apparatus has a display mode for displaying time and a power-saving mode for reducing power consumption. The time keeping apparatus has a time display unit for displaying time, a calendar display unit for displaying a present date, a control unit for stopping, in the power-saving mode, both time display by the time display unit and calendar display by the calendar display unit, and a time information storage unit for storing information relating to an elapsed time of the power-saving mode. Upon switching back to the display mode, the calendar display displays a present date on the basis of information relating to the elapsed time stored by the time information storage unit.

Abstract: To provide a portable electronic device which is easily shifted into a power save mode at the discretion of an operator, such as a user, and optimally reduces power consumption in accordance with the current use of the device. An operator can force an electronic device into a power save mode at the operator's discretion by manipulating a control. Electrical energy stored is thus reliably saved in accordance with the usage by the operator, and unnecessary power consumption is efficiently reduced, even more than in a method in which a device automatically stops the time display and is shifted into a power save mode in accordance with the presence or absence of power generation. Setting a time limit within which the operational state of the control needs to be complete, the operator is prevented from erroneously shifting into the power save mode, and the ease of use of the time measurement device is still assured.

Abstract: To reduce electric power consumed during the operation of adjusting the indication of time and reduce the time required for the time adjusting operation. Using a second hand driving motor and a hour/minute hand driving motor both capable of rotating in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the indication of time is adjusted by driving the second hand driving motor and the hour/minute hand driving motor at times different from each other. The hand driving method (hand driving direction) is determined on the basis of the time elapsed during the power saving mode measured by a time information adjusting part such that the hands are driven in a direction which results in a reduction in the power consumption or the adjusting time.

Abstract: In an electronic unit having a plurality of motors, a reduction in power-supply voltage is suppressed even if the plurality of motors are driven, and a difference in hand moving timing is allowed to be made inconspicuous. An electronic timepiece having a seconds motor for driving a seconds hand and an hour-and-minute motor for driving hour and minute hands, which serves as an electronic unit, moves the seconds hand and the hour and minute hands such that, when a seconds auxiliary pulse signal is output to the seconds motor at the hand moving timing of the seconds hand, control is applied in a way in which neither magnetic-field detection around the hour-and-minute motor nor the rotation detection of the hour-and-minute motor is performed at the hand moving timing of the hour and minute hands, and an hour-and-minute auxiliary pulse signal is output to the hour-and-minute motor.

Abstract: Portable electronic equipment includes a carried-by-user detector for detecting whether the electronic equipment is in a state carried by a user or not. When the electronic equipment is in a state not carried by the user, i.e., when the user is not employing the electronic equipment, an operating mode is shifted from a normal operating mode to a power saving mode to reduce power consumption of the electronic equipment. Useless consumption of power during non-use of the electronic equipment can be thus reduced. Further, in electronic equipment (timepiece) incorporating a power generator for generating power by converting first energy (motion, pressure or heat) into electric energy as second energy, whether the power generator is generating power, i.e.

Abstract: In an electronic device having a stepping motor which can be driven more quickly than in a normal driving operation without causing a significant increase in power consumption, a detecting coil control circuit is provided which controls a connection circuit serving to open and close a detecting coil that is wound coaxially with a driving coil, in such a manner that the detecting coil is opened during the period in which a quick driving pulse is supplied to the driving coil. After supplying the quick driving pulse, a driving controller controls a driving circuit so as to open the driving coil, while the driving controller closes the detecting coil so that a voltage induced in the detecting coil by an electromotive force is detected by a position detecting circuit thereby determining the position of a rotor. The chance that the driving coil and the detecting coil act as electromagnetic brakes is minimized thereby ensuring that the quick driving operation is performed with low power consumption.

Abstract: A time keeping apparatus has a display mode for displaying time and a power-saving mode for reducing power consumption. The time keeping apparatus has a time display unit for displaying time, a calendar display unit for displaying a present date, a control unit for stopping, in the power-saving mode, both time display by the time display unit and calendar display by the calendar display unit, and a time information storage unit for storing information relating to an elapsed time of the power-saving mode. Upon switching back to the display mode, the calendar display displays a present date on the basis of information relating to the elapsed time stored by the time information storage unit.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus such as a timing device capable of a quick-moving operation, a detecting coil wound coaxially with a driving coil for driving a rotor is arranged, a feedback-induced voltage appearing in the detecting coil is detected by a detector circuit, and a first peak appearing first subsequent to the supply of a drive pulse and having the same polarity as the drive pulse is picked up to detect the rotation of a rotor. Based on the detected timing of the first peak, a next drive pulse is supplied, and the drive pulse is thus fast supplied while the rotation of the rotor is checked. This arrangement allows a quick-moving operation free from faulty watch hand driving to run even faster.

Abstract: In a compact, highly precise position detecting apparatus which can perform automatic detection of a hand position, which is required to add a function such as automatic time correction to a time-measuring apparatus, an identification pattern (20) in which identification marks are discretely disposed on a surface of a center wheel (17) moving together with a minute hand (12), which serves as an encoder surface, is formed by hard-magnetic thin film, and sampling is performed by a magnetic sensor (21b) at a plurality of sampling points to determine whether identification marks are provided. The detection signal of the magnetic sensor at each sampling point is classified into three data, "1" and "0" indicating whether identification marks are provided or not, and "*" indicating that identification marks are indefinite. A sampling code obtained by data sampled at the plurality of sampling points is compared with reference identification codes to determine the position.

Abstract: A timepiece construction member comprises a timepiece frame, trains, a motor, circuit member and so on. A supporting member for keeping and securing the timepiece construction member is made of a spring plate. The supporting member is engaged with the plate at the periphery thereof and as a result, the timepiece construction member is secured by a simple means. It is possible to provide a securing construction having a high reliability and a small number of members. Further, since the supporting member also serves as the other operating member such as a battery plus terminal, it is possible to provide a small sized securing construction for members. Furthermore, since the members of the timepiece are in contact with an elastic beam of the spring plate, the members of the timepiece can be secured stably.

Abstract: An electronic cash register comprises a keyboard including a data input key and a time zone setting key; a central processing unit coupled to the keyboard; a memory coupled to the central processing unit and having a plurality of memory places for storing accumulated sales amounts on a time zone basis; a time memory coupled to the central processing unit to store time zone defining time data by the operation of the time zone setting key; a timepiece coupled to the time memory to supply current time data; and a comparator coupled to the timepiece and to the time memory to compare current time data from the timepiece with the time data stored in the time memory. The central processing unit includes means for writing entry data in one memory place of the memory according to the time zone determined by the result of a comparison by the comparator when entry data from the keyboard is completed.