Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a liquid discharge head having a nozzle surface; a carriage; a carriage mover; a conveyor conveying a medium in a conveyance direction; a velocity sensor; a distance sensor; and a controller. The controller makes a determination regarding the velocity of the carriage based on output of the velocity sensor, and makes a determination regarding the distance between the medium and the nozzle surface based on output of the distance sensor. In a case that that the controller determines that the velocity is less than a predetermined velocity and that the distance is less than a predetermined distance, the controller interrupts recording performed by the liquid discharge head.

Abstract: A controller is configured to receive an output signal outputted from a light reception element. The controller is configured to perform: an existence detection of controlling a light emission element to emit light and detecting whether an ejection target exists at a facing position based on the output signal; and a distance detection of controlling the light emission element to emit light toward a surface of the ejection target and detecting a distance between the surface of the ejection target and a nozzle surface based on the output signal outputted from the light reception element upon receiving light reflected off the surface of the ejection target. An amount of change of the output signal with respect to change of the distance in the distance detection is larger than an amount of change of the output signal with respect to change of the distance in the existence detection.

Abstract: A printer includes a head having nozzles, a carriage with the head mounted thereon, a carriage motor to move the carriage along a scanning direction, an encoder including a scale having reference marks formed thereon along a particular direction, and a sensor to detect the reference marks while moving relative to the scale along with movement of the carriage along the scanning direction, and a controller configured to perform liquid discharging to control the head to discharge liquid from the nozzles toward a recording medium while performing feedback control of the carriage motor based on velocity information such that the carriage moves at a target velocity along the scanning direction, the velocity information representing a carriage velocity based on detection results of the sensor, and interrupt the liquid discharging when the carriage velocity exceeds an overshoot threshold higher than the target velocity during the liquid discharging.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid discharge apparatus including: a liquid discharge head having a nozzle surface; a carriage; a carriage mover; a conveyor conveying a medium in a conveyance direction; a velocity sensor; a distance sensor; and a controller. The controller makes a determination regarding the velocity of the carriage based on output of the velocity sensor, and makes a determination regarding the distance between the medium and the nozzle surface based on output of the distance sensor. In a case that that the controller determines that the velocity is less than a predetermined velocity and that the distance is less than a predetermined distance, the controller interrupts recording performed by the liquid discharge head.

Abstract: A communication device includes a transmitter, a receiver, a clock signal line, a data signal line, a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to control the transmitter to transmit the clock signal and the confirmation signal where at least one of the clock signal and the confirmation signal are transmitted at a reference waveform condition and determine whether the transmitter receives an acquisition signal. The controller is configured to, if the transmitter does not receive the acquisition signal, control the transmitter to transmit the clock signal and the confirmation signal using a different waveform condition for at least one of the clock signal and the confirmation signal and if the transmitter receives the acquisition signal, update condition change information.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate that includes: a first principal surface and a second principal surface; a first collecting electrode disposed above the first principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; a metal layer disposed below the second principal surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a second collecting electrode disposed below the metal layer. The first collecting electrode includes one or more first finger electrodes, and the second collecting electrode includes one or more second finger electrodes. The one or more first finger electrodes and the one or more second finger electrodes are substantially parallel to each other in a plan view.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including first and second nozzles and first and second driving elements corresponding to the first and second nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by first and second signal lines and a third signal line for transmitting a clock signal, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the first and second driving elements. Each of the first and second driving elements is driven to jet an ink droplet from one of the first and second nozzles corresponding thereto when driving voltage is applied from the head driving circuit. The controller executes relative movement processing for the recording head and a sheet in parallel with recording processing in which pattern signals of the driving voltage are outputted serially to the first signal line and a jetting instruction signal is outputted serially to the second signal line.

Abstract: A conveyer conveys an ejection target in a conveyance direction along a conveyance path including a facing position facing a nozzle surface of a liquid ejection head. A distance sensor outputs a distance signal that changes depending on a distance between the nozzle surface and a surface of the ejection target. A controller performs: receiving the distance signal outputted from the distance sensor and positional information relating to a position of the ejection target on the conveyance path; and during ejecting liquid from the nozzle to record an image on the ejection target, changing at least one of a determination condition and a coefficient based on the positional information, the determination condition being a condition for determining whether to interrupt recording of the image by referring to the distance signal, the coefficient being multiplied by a value of the distance signal when determining whether to interrupt recording.

Abstract: A controller is configured to receive an output signal outputted from a light reception element. The controller is configured to perform: an existence detection of controlling a light emission element to emit light and detecting whether an ejection target exists at a facing position based on the output signal; and a distance detection of controlling the light emission element to emit light toward a surface of the ejection target and detecting a distance between the surface of the ejection target and a nozzle surface based on the output signal outputted from the light reception element upon receiving light reflected off the surface of the ejection target. An amount of change of the output signal with respect to change of the distance in the distance detection is larger than an amount of change of the output signal with respect to change of the distance in the existence detection.

Abstract: A plurality of finger electrodes are disposed on a surface of a photoelectric conversion layer 60 and extend in a first direction. The plurality of finger electrodes are arranged in a second direction in which an inter-cell wiring member adapted to be disposed on the surface of the photoelectric conversion layer extends. A height of each of those of the plurality of finger electrodes disposed toward ends in the second direction from a part of the photoelectric conversion layer where the inter-cell wiring member is adapted to be disposed is larger than a height of the finger electrode disposed at a center in the second direction from the part of the photoelectric conversion layer where the inter-cell wiring member is adapted to be disposed.

Abstract: A communication device, including: a touch sensor configured to detect a touch or an approach of an input object by detecting a change in capacitance; and a near field communicator configured to perform near field communication with an information processing terminal present in a communication area in which near field communication is possible, the information processing terminal being capable of performing the near field communication, wherein a distance within which the touch or the approach of the input object is detectable by the touch sensor is shorter than a distance within which the near field communication by the near field communicator with the information processing terminal is possible.

Abstract: A communication device includes a transmitter, a receiver, a clock signal line, a data signal line, a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to control the transmitter to transmit the clock signal and the confirmation signal where at least one of the clock signal and the confirmation signal are transmitted at a reference waveform condition and determine whether the transmitter receives an acquisition signal. The controller is configured to, if the transmitter does not receive the acquisition signal, control the transmitter to transmit the clock signal and the confirmation signal using a different waveform condition for at least one of the clock signal and the confirmation signal and if the transmitter receives the acquisition signal, update condition change information.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyor conveying a sheet; a recording head including first nozzles, second nozzles, first driving elements corresponding to the first nozzles respectively, and second driving elements corresponding to the second nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by first and second signal lines and a third signal line through which a clock signal is transmitted, and connected electrically to the first driving elements and the second driving elements. Each of the first and second driving elements is driven to jet an ink droplet from one of the first and second nozzles when driving voltage is applied from the head driving circuit. The controller repeatedly executes conveyance processing for conveying the sheet with the conveyor and recording processing in which pattern signals indicating patterns of the driving voltage are outputted serially and a jetting instruction signal is outputted serially.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including nozzles and driving elements corresponding to the nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by a first signal line, a second signal line, and a third signal line through which a clock signal including edges is transmitted, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the driving elements. Each of the driving elements jets an ink from one of the nozzles corresponding thereto by an amount corresponding to driving voltage applied from the head driving circuit. The controller repeatedly executes output processing in which pattern signals indicating patterns of the driving voltage are continuously outputted to the first signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal and selection signals are continuously outputted to the second signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal.

Abstract: A composite sliding bearing is disclosed. The composite sliding bearing has an inner ring, formed of split rings halved by a center in an axial direction, which has V-section inclined surfaces formed on the outer diameter surfaces of the split rings, bearing pads disposed separately on the inclined surfaces of the split rings along the outer diameter surface of the inner ring, and an outer ring on the inner diameter surface of which is formed a V-section umbrella-shaped inclined surface corresponding to the outer diameter surface of the inner ring. A radial load and axial load applied to the bearing are supported by sliding the inner diameter surface of the outer ring on the sliding surfaces of the bearing pads in a condition in which the bearing pads are fluid lubricated.

Abstract: A first finger electrode group including finger electrodes on the first principal surface. A second finger electrode group including finger electrodes on the second principal surface. The second finger electrode group is divided into divided electrode portions, the number of electrodes of the electrode portions decreasing as a distance from a central portion of the second finger electrode group increases towards outside, and a coupling portion is arranged between each adjacent ones of the divided electrode portions and electrically connects at least two of the finger electrodes of the divided electrode portion on inside with at least one of the finger electrodes of the divided electrode portion on outside. The number of finger electrodes of the divided electrode portion closest to the central portion of the second finger electrode group is larger than the number of finger electrodes of the first finger electrode group.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a conveyor conveying a sheet; a recording head including first nozzles, second nozzles, first driving elements corresponding to the first nozzles respectively, and second driving elements corresponding to the second nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by first and second signal lines and a third signal line through which a clock signal is transmitted, and connected electrically to the first driving elements and the second driving elements. Each of the first and second driving elements is driven to jet an ink droplet from one of the first and second nozzles when driving voltage is applied from the head driving circuit. The controller repeatedly executes conveyance processing for conveying the sheet with the conveyor and recording processing in which pattern signals indicating patterns of the driving voltage are outputted serially and a jetting instruction signal is outputted serially.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including first and second nozzles and first and second driving elements corresponding to the first and second nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by first and second signal lines and a third signal line for transmitting a clock signal, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the first and second driving elements. Each of the first and second driving elements is driven to jet an ink droplet from one of the first and second nozzles corresponding thereto when driving voltage is applied from the head driving circuit. The controller executes relative movement processing for the recording head and a sheet in parallel with recording processing in which pattern signals of the driving voltage are outputted serially to the first signal line and a jetting instruction signal is outputted serially to the second signal line.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus includes: a recording head including nozzles and driving elements corresponding to the nozzles respectively; a controller; and a head driving circuit connected to the controller by a first signal line, a second signal line, and a third signal line through which a clock signal including edges is transmitted, the head driving circuit connected electrically to the driving elements. Each of the driving elements jets an ink from one of the nozzles corresponding thereto by an amount corresponding to driving voltage applied from the head driving circuit. The controller repeatedly executes output processing in which pattern signals indicating patterns of the driving voltage are continuously outputted to the first signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal and selection signals are continuously outputted to the second signal line while being synchronized with the clock signal.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell includes: providing an electrode layer containing thermosetting resin on at least one of a first main surface and a second main surface, located opposite to the first main surface, of a photoelectric conversion unit; heating the electrode layer by irradiation of infrared light; and producing an air stream around the photoelectric conversion unit during irradiation of infrared light. The irradiation of infrared light may include irradiation of first infrared light from a first emitter facing the first main surface; and irradiation of second infrared light from a second emitter facing the second main surface.