Abstract: A method of monitoring a pressure (P) of a tire of a motor vehicle involves measuring a pressure (P) of the tire and comparing the measured pressure with at least one reference value (PrM, Prm, Pr). The reference value (PrM, Prm, Pr) varies in accordance with a temporal law that depends on at least one of the following parameters: a temporal benchmark, a speech of the vehicle, a temperature of the tire, and a parameter that is based on at least one of the previous three parameters. The reference value (PrM, Prm, Pr) varies between first and second extreme values.

Abstract: In the processing of multimedia contents data, analyzing the structure of the multimedia contents to be reproduced and changing sync information field configuration information contained in the multimedia contents based on the structure of the analyzed multimedia contents.

Abstract: View-dependent texture images and view-independent texture data for a 3D computer model are processed to compress each view-dependent texture image by subtracting the view-dependent data and view-independent data in a common 2D image space to generate a difference image, and compression encoding the difference image. The difference images, 3D computer model and view-independent texture data are transmitted to a second apparatus, where the difference data and view-independent texture data are recombined in a common 2D image space as part of the processing to render an image.

Abstract: A RF transaction device stores multiple distinct calling card accounts associated with a calling card account. The multiple calling card accounts may be issued by multiple calling card carriers. An RF operable reader is in communication with a telephonic call enabling device. The RF transaction device communicates with the reader to retrieve calling card account information. Since the RF device has multiple distinct credit card account numbers stored on the transaction device, the RF transaction device may be used to effectuate a calling card call on different call carrier systems using differently formatted call authorizing systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a yellow toner which is excellent in transparency of an image formed on an OHP sheet, excellent in color reproducibility even when a light-pressure fixing unit is employed, excellent in coloring power and charge property, and is reduced in occurrence of filming. The present invention also provides a yellow toner having excellent durability and capable of contributing to the simplification or miniaturization of the constitution of an image forming apparatus. The yellow toner of the invention comprises a binder resin and a colorant, the binder resin contains at least a polyester unit, and the toner in the powder state has a lightness L* satisfying the relationship of L*>87 and has a chromaticity b* satisfying the relationship of 106<b*<120.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus which has a projection optical system configured to project light from a reticle to a substrate to expose the substrate to light, with a first gap between a final surface of the projection optical system and the substrate being filled with liquid. A substrate stage is configured to hold the substrate and to be moved to position the substrate, a plate has a surface substantially flush with a surface of the substrate held by the substrate stage and configured to be moved independently of the substrate stage, a supply nozzle is configured to supply the liquid, the liquid being supplied to the first gap via the supply nozzle during exposure of the substrate to light, and a recovery nozzle is configured to recover the liquid, the liquid being recovered from the first gap via the recovery nozzle during exposure of the substrate to light.

Abstract: A polyhydroxyalkanoate containing in a molecule at least one unit represented by the chemical formula (1). The polyhydroxyalkanoate is a biodegradable plastic with enhanced melt-processability and exhibits excellent charging stability, high chargeability, and enhanced dispersibility when used as a charge control agent of a toner in an electrophotographic process. (R denotes -A1(—SO2R1)x. R1 is selected from OH, a halogen atom, ONa, OK, and OR1a. R1a and A1 are selected from a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon structure, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring structure, and a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic structure. Further, m and x are integers selected from 1 to 8, and when two or more units exist, each of R, R1R1a, A1, m, and x is defined as above independently for each of the units.

Abstract: An update value for updating a count value is changed in accordance with the time interval of activations of a fixing unit. Every time the fixing unit is activated, the count value is updated in accordance with the update value. The target temperature of the heater of the first rotary body is set in accordance with the updated count value to control the temperature of the fixing unit.

Abstract: A writing instrument for a water-metachromatic member has a cylindrical container capable of holding water, formed with an opening at a tip end thereof to communicate the interior of the container with the exterior thereof, a hollow cylindrical holder which directly holds a pen point member, being formed at a tip end with an opening through which the tip end of said pen point member is projected outwardly and at a rear end with a communication hole, and a gap provided between an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical holder and an outer peripheral surface of the rod-like body to form a gap for generating a capillary force therebetween. When the holder is held to the container, water is supplied through said communication hole to said pen point member. When the holder is detached from the container, the opening of the container is usable for water supply.

Abstract: A RF transaction device is provided, which is operable to store a private label transaction account identifier associated with a private label transaction account. The invention further includes a RF operable reader in communication with a private label transaction processing system. The RF transaction device communicates with the reader to provide the private label transaction account identifier to the transaction processing system. As such, the invention provides a RF transaction device which may be used to complete a transaction using RF frequency in a contactless environment.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developing roller; a magnetic seal provided at a longitudinal end of the developing roller; a positioning surface between a developing frame supporting the developing roller and a bottom end of the magnetic seal, the positioning surface being in contact with the developing frame and the magnetic seal; an end seal provided between the developing frame and the bottom end of the magnetic seal.

Abstract: An electrode plate for a liquid crystal device is constituted by a light-transmissive substrate, a plurality of metal electrodes disposed on the light-transmissive substrate with a spacing therebetween, an insulating layer disposed at the spacing, and a plurality of transparent electrodes disposed on the insulating layer and each electrically connected with an associated metal electrode at a first end portion thereof. The first end portion of the transparent electrode is located closer to the light-transmissive substrate than an adjacent end portion of an adjacent transparent electrode. The electrode plate is effective in providing a liquid crystal device with a wider optical modulation region while improving image qualities.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image forming apparatus comprises an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, an intermediate transfer member for allowing the toner image on the image bearing member to undergo electrostatic primary transfer thereto at the position of primary transfer and then enabling the toner image deposited thereon to undergo secondary transfer to a transfer material, and a charging member for charging a residual toner remaining on the intermediate transfer member after the second transfer of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member to a transfer material and consequently causing the residual toner charged by the charging member to be transferred at the position of primary transfer to the image bearing member. Wherein the sum of the surface roughness, Rz, of the intermediate transfer member and that of the charging member is not less than 1 .mu.m and not more than 50 .mu.m.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic original supplying apparatus in which originals are stacked on an original tray as an original bundle and the originals in the original bundle are separated one by one from an uppermost one or from a lowermost one by a separation portion disposed at one side of the original tray. The apparatus comprises a guide passage for directing the original bundle to the separation portion, and a guide member provided at a tip end of the guide passage for upward and downward pivotal movement so that, when the originals are separated from the uppermost one, the guide member is rocked upwardly to protrude upwardly from the guide passage in an inclined fashion to thereby push a tip end of the original bundle to be directed to said separation portion, and, when the originals are separated from the lowermost one, the guide member is rocked downwardly to be retarded from the guide passage.

Abstract: This invention provides a transistor manufacture method comprising the steps of forming, on a semiconductor substrate, an insulating film being made open at least in an introducing portion through which an impurity for forming a drain region other than a lightly-doped region is introduced, then forming a gate electrode and a drain electrode each containing an impurity, and then introducing the impurity through between the gate electrode and the drain electrode to thereby form the lightly-doped region; and introducing the impurity from the drain electrode through the impurity introducing portion with heat treatment, to thereby form the drain region. A transistor manufactured by the above method is also provided.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes a display panel formed by arranging in juxtaposition a face plate carrying thereon a phosphor and a rear plate carrying thereon electron-emitting devices within a housing. The phosphor is so arranged as to be irradiated with electrons emitted from the electron-emitting devices to display images. The image display apparatus further includes an air blower for causing air to flow between the display panel and the housing.

Abstract: In a circuit formed with a resistor 32, connection terminals 28 and 23, a resistor 25, and connection terminals 24 and 29 all of which are shown in FIG. 3, when a one-chip microcomputer 21 shown in FIG. 1 inputs a high-level SCAN signal, a high- or low-level SENSE signal is generated according to the mounting state of an ink cartridge 33. When the ink cartridge 33 is mounted, a low-level SENSE signal is generated in response to a high-level SCAN signal. When the ink cartridge 33 is not mounted, a high-level SENSE signal is generated in response to a high-level SCAN signal. The one-chip microcomputer 21 monitors the mounting state of the ink cartridge 33 by detecting the level of a SENSE signal in order to prevent unnecessary initialization operations for the head of the ink cartridge so as not to reduce the number of sheets available for recording and not to increase running costs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus comprising a supply means for supplying a sheet in a predetermined direction, a convey means for conveying the sheet supplied by the supply means in a predetermined direction, a recording means for recording an image on the sheet conveyed by the convey means, in response to image information, a reversible drive means for driving the supply means and the convey means, and a drive transmitting means for transmitting a driving force from the drive means to the supply means or the convey means, and wherein the drive transmitting means comprises a plurality of planetary gears as means for rotating the supply means only in a sheet supplying direction regardless of a rotational direction of the convey means, and the planetary gears are revolved around gears having different speed reduction ratios from the drive means as sun gears, respectively.

Abstract: A layered circuit-board designing method and layered circuit-board where circuit-boards to be overlaid are connected at the center or an arbitrary position of each circuit-board. The layered circuit-board includes an upper-layer first circuit-board, a lower-layer third circuit-board, and an intermediate-layer second circuit-board between the first and third circuit-boards. A first connector is mounted on the first circuit-board, a second connector is mounted on the third circuit-board, a third connector is mounted on the top surface of the second circuit-board, while maintaining the positional relation between the third connector and the first connector, and a fourth connector is mounted on the bottom surface of the second circuit-board, while maintaining the positional relation between the fourth connector and the second connector. In addition, through holes are provided at pins of the third and fourth connectors for passing through the front and bottom surfaces of the second circuit-board.