Abstract: An optical component including: a first block having a first refractive index and a first reflective surface; a first light absorbing member containing a first metal ion that absorbs light having a first specific wavelength and has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index; a first buffer layer between and in contact with each of the first light absorbing member and the first block, and having a third refractive index having a value between the first refractive index and the second refractive index, wherein the first light absorbing member, the first buffer layer, and the first block are arranged in this order in a first direction such that first block reflects light traveling in the first direction in a second direction different from the first direction on the first reflective surface.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state, reducing or preventing a decrease in transmittance in the transparent state, and reducing or preventing a decrease in luminance in the panel central portion in the scattering state. The liquid crystal display device includes, sequentially from its viewing surface side toward its back surface side: a first liquid crystal panel; a light source; and a second liquid crystal panel, the first liquid crystal panel including a polymer dispersed liquid crystal containing a polymer network and liquid crystal components, the light source being configured to irradiate a back surface side main surface of the first liquid crystal panel with light from an oblique direction.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a pixel array having a plurality of column signal lines which are divided into a plurality of groups, a readout circuit configured to read out signals from the pixel array via the plurality of column signal lines. A holding unit includes one first region and a plurality of second regions. A plurality of first correction values respectively corresponding to the plurality of columns are stored in the first region. Each second region is associated with a readout condition for reading signals from each pixel unit of the pixel array by the readout circuit, and a plurality of second correction values respectively corresponding to the plurality of groups are stored in each second region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of general formula (I) (wherein R1, R2, and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl and X is an alkali metal cation, ammonium cation, or quaternary ammonium cation). This compound is highly soluble in water, and solutions thereof need not be neutralized when administered to the living body. The compound is useful as a medicine, etc.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stator of a rotary electric machine of which miniaturization, high output, and cost reduction are balanced at a higher level than the related art, and a rotary electric machine including the stator. Provided is a stator of a rotary electric machine in which a stator coil is wound around a stator core.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a contact unit, and a constant-current controller. The transfer unit nips a recording medium using an image retaining unit and a transfer member and generates a transfer electric field in a transfer region therebetween so as to electrostatically transfer the image onto the recording medium. The contact unit is provided upstream and downstream of the transfer region in a recording-medium transport direction and comes into contact with the recording medium while the recording medium passes through the transfer region, so as to function as an electrode leading to a ground. The constant-current controller performs constant-current control on a transfer current to be fed to the transfer region by using a transfer voltage when the recording medium is a low-resistance recording medium having a predetermined resistance value or lower or having an electrically-conductive layer along a medium base surface.

Abstract: [Object] An object is to provide a brain activity measuring apparatus and a brain activity measuring method that can precisely ensure reproducibility of measurements for a plurality of measurements made separately for a number of times using functional magnetic resonance imaging. [Solution] In an MRI apparatus 10, a data processing unit 32 determines rigid transformation between an original tomographic image obtained in a past measurement and stored in a storage unit 36 and a pilot tomographic image obtained in a present imaging session such that mutual information between the original and pilot tomographic images is locally maximized; and based on a parameter of the determined rigid transformation, position and direction of a slice image of the tomographic image in the present imaging session are corrected.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image carrier, a transfer device, a face-forming member, and a reducing element. The image carrier carries an image. The transfer device is disposed in contact with the image carrier, transports a recording medium, and applies a transfer voltage to a transfer region between the transfer device and the image carrier to transfer the image on the image carrier to the recording medium. The face-forming member is disposed in contact with a back face of the image carrier further upstream than the transfer region, is provided grounded along a direction intersecting the movement direction of the image carrier, and includes a conductive member forming a movement track face of the image carrier leading to the transfer region. The reducing element is provided on a current path going through the face-forming member, and reduces an amount of current leading from the face-forming member to ground.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit, a contact unit, and a constant-current controller. The transfer unit nips a recording medium using an image retaining unit and a transfer member and generates a transfer electric field in a transfer region therebetween so as to electrostatically transfer the image onto the recording medium. The contact unit is provided upstream and downstream of the transfer region in a recording-medium transport direction and comes into contact with the recording medium while the recording medium passes through the transfer region, so as to function as an electrode leading to a ground. The constant-current controller performs constant-current control on a transfer current to be fed to the transfer region by using a transfer voltage when the recording medium is a low-resistance recording medium having a predetermined resistance value or lower or having an electrically-conductive layer along a medium base surface.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image carrier, a transfer device, a face-forming member, and a reducing element. The image carrier carries an image. The transfer device is disposed in contact with the image carrier, transports a recording medium, and applies a transfer voltage to a transfer region between the transfer device and the image carrier to transfer the image on the image carrier to the recording medium. The face-forming member is disposed in contact with a back face of the image carrier further upstream than the transfer region, is provided grounded along a direction intersecting the movement direction of the image carrier, and includes a conductive member forming a movement track face of the image carrier leading to the transfer region. The reducing element is provided on a current path going through the face-forming member, and reduces an amount of current leading from the face-forming member to ground.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a transfer part that is disposed so as to be in contact with the image carrier and transfers the toner image carried by the image carrier to a recording medium; and a charge applying part that is disposed on an upstream side of the transfer part in a recording-medium transport direction and charges the recording medium such that an amount of charge in the recording medium varies according to the position therein in a direction intersecting a recording-medium transport direction when the recording medium has reached the transfer part.

Abstract: A capacitive force sensor 101 of the present invention includes a plurality of cells each including a lower electrode 104, a movable member that includes an upper electrode 107 and has flexibility, and a support 105b arranged to movably support the movable member and to form a gap 106 between the upper and the lower electrodes. The plural cells are grouped into elements each including one or more of the cells, and the one or more cells in a same element are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: While strength of a wiring board in a semiconductor substrate is ensured, thermal conductivity is increased. A BGA includes a wiring board having an upper surface and a lower surface, a semiconductor chip mounted on the upper surface of the wiring board, and ball electrodes that are a plurality of external terminals provided on the lower surface of the wiring board. The wiring board includes an insulation layer arranged between wiring layers. The insulation layer includes a resin layer, another resin layer, and an electrically conducting layer arranged between the resin layer and the other resin layer. The electrically conducting layer is formed by a lamination of a graphite sheet and a metal layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image carriers for carrying toner images of different colors; an intermediate transfer body for carrying the toner images transferred from the multiple image carriers; a second transfer part for transferring the toner images carried by the intermediate transfer body to a recording medium at a second transfer position; and a charge-applying part for applying a charge having a same polarity as a charging polarity of toner used to form the toner images to at least one of a leading end and a trailing end of the recording medium in a transport direction, at a position on an upstream side of the second transfer part in the transport direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention employs an actuator including: a movable portion connected to a reflecting member having a reflective surface; a movable comb electrode disposed at a distance from the reflecting member, supported by the movable portion, and extended in a direction parallel to the reflective surface; a stationary comb electrode supported by a supporting portion, extends in the direction parallel to the reflective surface, and disposed alternately with the movable comb electrode; and a voltage controller that applies a voltage to the movable comb electrode and the stationary comb electrode to displace the movable comb electrode and the movable portion in a direction normal to the reflective surface. A portion that supports the movable comb electrode and a portion that supports the stationary comb electrode are disposed such that the movable comb electrode and the stationary comb electrode pass each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier carrying a toner image; a transfer unit disposed to contact the image carrier and transferring the toner image carried on the image carrier to a recording medium; and a gap forming unit that forms a gap between the image carrier and the transfer unit when one or more regions of the recording medium are positioned between the image carrier and the transfer unit. The one or more regions include at least one of a leading end and a trailing end of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes an electric charge applying unit disposed on an upstream side of the transfer unit and applies electric charges to the one or more regions of the recording medium. The electric charges have an opposite polarity to a charging polarity of a toner which forms the toner image.

Abstract: The present invention employs an actuator including: a movable portion connected to a reflecting member having a reflective surface; a movable comb electrode disposed at a distance from the reflecting member, supported by the movable portion, and extended in a direction parallel to the reflective surface; a stationary comb electrode supported by a supporting portion, extends in the direction parallel to the reflective surface, and disposed alternately with the movable comb electrode; and a voltage controller that applies a voltage to the movable comb electrode and the stationary comb electrode to displace the movable comb electrode and the movable portion in a direction normal to the reflective surface. A portion that supports the movable comb electrode and a portion that supports the stationary comb electrode are disposed such that the movable comb electrode and the stationary comb electrode pass each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a transfer part that is disposed so as to be in contact with the image carrier and transfers the toner image carried by the image carrier to a recording medium; and a charge applying part that is disposed on an upstream side of the transfer part in a recording-medium transport direction and charges the recording medium such that an amount of charge in the recording medium varies according to the position therein in a direction intersecting a recording-medium transport direction when the recording medium has reached the transfer part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes multiple image carriers for carrying toner images of different colors; an intermediate transfer body for carrying the toner images transferred from the multiple image carriers; a second transfer part for transferring the toner images carried by the intermediate transfer body to a recording medium at a second transfer position; and a charge-applying part for applying a charge having a same polarity as a charging polarity of toner used to form the toner images to at least one of a leading end and a trailing end of the recording medium in a transport direction, at a position on an upstream side of the second transfer part in the transport direction of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier carrying a toner image; a transfer unit disposed to contact the image carrier and transferring the toner image carried on the image carrier to a recording medium; and a gap forming unit that forms a gap between the image carrier and the transfer unit when one or more regions of the recording medium are positioned between the image carrier and the transfer unit. The one or more regions include at least one of a leading end and a trailing end of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus further includes an electric charge applying unit disposed on an upstream side of the transfer unit and applies electric charges to the one or more regions of the recording medium. The electric charges have an opposite polarity to a charging polarity of a toner which forms the toner image.