Abstract: A transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave by a drive signal being supplied to two terminals. A reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit and to output a reception signal from two terminals in accordance with the received ultrasonic wave. A change unit changes a determination scheme for determining a type of a recording medium, based on information indicating a relation between a polar character of the transmission unit and a polar character of the reception unit, the information having been acquired from the reception signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments include an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording material, an illumination unit configured to emit light, an image capturing unit configured to capture light emitted by the illumination unit and reflected by the recording material as a surface image including a plurality of pixels, and a control unit configured to calculate a first feature quantity from a difference of output values of a plurality of pixels arranged in a first direction, and calculate a second feature quantity from a difference of output values of a plurality of pixels arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the surface image captured by the image capturing unit, and control an image forming condition of the image forming unit based on the calculated first feature quantity and the calculated second feature quantity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, a first detection unit including a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a reception unit for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave, first and second conveyance units for conveying the recording material, and a control unit. The first and second conveyance units form a loop on the recording material by conveying the recording material at different speeds. The control unit controls an image forming condition for forming an image on the recording material by the image forming unit, based on the ultrasonic wave received via the recording material in a period in which no loop is formed on the recording material by the first and second conveyance units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording material, a conveyance unit configured to convey a recording material, an irradiation unit configured to emit light onto the recording material being conveyed by the conveyance unit, an image capturing unit configured to capture the light emitted by the irradiation unit and reflected from the recording material as a surface image of the recording material, and a control unit configured to control an image forming condition of the image formation unit based on the surface image of the recording material acquired by the image capturing unit, wherein the control unit controls the image forming condition based on a plurality of surface images of the recording material having different resolutions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, a first detection unit including a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a reception unit for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave, first and second conveyance units for conveying the recording material, and a control unit. The first and second conveyance units form a loop on the recording material by conveying the recording material at different speeds. The control unit controls an image forming condition for forming an image on the recording material by the image forming unit, based on the ultrasonic wave received via the recording material in a period in which no loop is formed on the recording material by the first and second conveyance units.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a transmission unit, a reception unit, a control unit configured to obtain a time period until the reception unit receives a first ultrasonic wave via a first recording material and an amplitude value thereof at a reference temperature, obtain a time period until the reception unit receives a second ultrasonic wave via a second recording material and an amplitude value thereof at a different temperature, control an image formation condition for forming the image on the first recording material on the basis of the amplitude value of the first ultrasonic wave, obtain a difference time period between reception of the first and second ultrasonic waves, and control an image formation condition for forming the image on the second recording material on the basis of the difference time period and the amplitude value of the second ultrasonic wave.

Abstract: A transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave by a drive signal being supplied to two terminals. A reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit and to output a reception signal from two terminals in accordance with the received ultrasonic wave. A change unit changes a determination scheme for determining a type of a recording medium, based on information indicating a relation between a polar character of the transmission unit and a polar character of the reception unit, the information having been acquired from the reception signal.

Abstract: The recording medium determination apparatus includes a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave, a receiving unit for outputting a signal corresponding to the ultrasonic wave, a peak extraction unit for detecting a value of the signal output from the receiving unit, a control unit for determining basis weight of a recording medium based on the value of the signal, and a timer for measuring a period of time from when the transmission unit transmits the ultrasonic wave to the detection by the peak extraction unit. The control unit calculates, based on a period of time measured by the timer at the time of factory shipment and a period of time measured by the timer after the factory shipment, variation of a distance between the transmission unit and the receiving unit after the factory shipment.

Abstract: A recording material detecting apparatus includes a light guiding unit that allows first and second light to enter a surface of a recording material, respectively, in two directions which are not parallel; an imaging device that images a first light irradiated area and a second light irradiated area, on the surface of the recording material; and an output device that outputs information on a surface condition of the recording material based on an output of the imaging device. When viewed in a direction along the center optical axes of first and second light sources which are of the same type, the first and second light sources are arranged such that the respective reference lines of the rotational phases around the center optical axes are rotated in opposite directions by approximately the same angles from a line perpendicular to the direction where the first and second light sources are arrayed.

Abstract: A grammage detection sensor according to an aspect of the present invention includes a transmission unit configured to transmit an ultrasonic wave, a reception unit configured to receive the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit, and a control unit configured to detect a grammage of a recording material, when a plurality of recording materials are continuously conveyed between the transmission unit and the reception unit, on the basis of a first ultrasonic wave received by the reception unit after the ultrasonic wave is transmitted by the transmission unit between a preceding recording material and a recording material following the preceding recording material, and a second ultrasonic wave received via a recording material by the reception unit after the ultrasonic wave is transmitted by the transmission unit.

Abstract: A transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave by a drive signal being supplied to two terminals. A reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit and to output a reception signal from two terminals in accordance with the received ultrasonic wave. A change unit changes a determination scheme for determining a type of a recording medium, based on information indicating a relation between a polar character of the transmission unit and a polar character of the reception unit, the information having been acquired from the reception signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a type of a recording medium is provided. A detection unit detects a characteristic value indicating a physical characteristic of a recording medium. A measurement unit measures a moisture content correlated with a moisture content of the recording medium. A determination unit determines the type of the recording medium based on the moisture content and the characteristic value. The determination unit may correct the characteristic value using the moisture content or correct a rule for determining the type of the recording medium using the moisture content unit, and determines the type of the recording medium in accordance with the corrected characteristic value or the corrected rule.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit, a detection unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. When the detection unit outputs a second output value when a second recording material, which is different from a first recording material is detected, in a state where the storage unit stores a first output value output by the detection unit upon detection of the first recording material, the control unit controls an image forming condition based on at least the first output value if a differential value between the first output value and the second output value is smaller than a predetermined threshold value and controls the image forming condition based on the second output value without using the first output value if the differential value is greater than the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording material, a first detection unit including a transmission unit for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a reception unit for receiving the transmitted ultrasonic wave, first and second conveyance units for conveying the recording material, and a control unit. The first and second conveyance units form a loop on the recording material by conveying the recording material at different speeds. The control unit controls an image forming condition for forming an image on the recording material by the image forming unit, based on the ultrasonic wave received via the recording material in a period in which no loop is formed on the recording material by the first and second conveyance units.

Abstract: A diagnostic apparatus is disclosed, which includes a processor configured to extract, from a plurality of components included in an integrated circuit to be diagnosed, a failure candidate based on test results obtained from actual operations of the integrated circuit, the actual operations being implemented by individually applying a plurality of types of test patterns to the integrated circuit, extract, from a plurality of pass patterns of the test patterns, a pass pattern with which a signal is transmitted to the failure candidate, based on log data obtained from simulations with the test patterns, the test results of the plurality of pass patterns being normal, and execute, using a fail pattern of the test patterns and the extracted pass patterns, a failure simulation assuming that the failure candidate is failed, the test result of the fail pattern being abnormal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit that contains developer and that is detachable; and a detection member that includes a detected electrode and that moves around a rotation shaft in the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode that is provided on an outer side of the developing unit, an electrostatic capacitance sensor that detects an electrostatic capacitance between the detected electrode and the electrostatic capacitance sensor electrode and that outputs data related to the detected electrostatic capacitance, and a CPU that determines an amount of the developer in the developing unit based on the data output from the electrostatic capacitance sensor.

Abstract: A transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave by a drive signal being supplied to two terminals. A reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission unit and to output a reception signal from two terminals in accordance with the received ultrasonic wave. A change unit changes a determination scheme for determining a type of a recording medium, based on information indicating a relation between a polar character of the transmission unit and a polar character of the reception unit, the information having been acquired from the reception signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit for accommodating a developer, a rotatable member, rotatable in the developing unit, for stirring the developer, and a pressure-detecting portion for detecting a pressure applied by the rotatable member and for outputting a voltage signal corresponding to the pressure. The pressure-detecting portion is provided on the wall surface perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the rotatable member in the developing unit. In addition, a discriminating portion discriminates an amount of the developer in the developing unit on the basis of a change in the voltage signal outputted from the pressure-detecting portion.

Abstract: A sensor is attached to an apparatus having a fixing unit which fixes an image on a recording medium by heating the recording medium. The sensor includes: a transmission unit transmitting an ultrasonic wave to the recording medium; a reception unit receiving the ultrasonic wave via the recording medium, and output a signal corresponding to the received ultrasonic wave; and a detecting unit detecting information relating to a state of the recording medium which has changed by passing through the fixing unit, based on a first signal which the reception unit has output upon having received the ultrasonic wave before the recording medium has passed through the fixing unit, and a second signal which the reception unit has output upon having received the ultrasonic wave after the recording medium has passed through the fixing unit.

Abstract: By providing a step in a pressing member for pressing a recording material P to a reading surface of an image-pickup unit, surface images in a tight contact area and a non-tight-contact area are picked up. By identifying the type of the recording material P based on the two surface images, the accuracy of identifying the recording material is improved without using a plurality of sensors.