Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; a developer supporting member for attaching developer to the image supporting member to form a developer image; a transfer unit for transferring the developer image to a recording medium; a driving unit for driving at least one of the image supporting member, the developer supporting member, and the transfer unit; an external temperature detection unit for detecting an environmental temperature outside the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for setting a driving speed of the driving unit according to the environmental temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming portion for forming an image according to image information; an image forming unit arranged to be detachable and integrally including the image forming portion; a developer container arranged to be detachable for supplying developer to the image forming portion; and a blocking member for blocking developer from being supplied from the developer container to the image forming portion.

Abstract: A developer transportation device includes a storage portion for storing developer; a transportation member formed of an elastic material and disposed in the storage portion to be freely rotatable for transporting the developer upon rotating; and a rotation transmission member for transmitting a rotation to the transportation member. The transportation member may be provided with an abutting portion abutting against a wall portion of the storage portion when the transportation member rotates.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a weight; a base portion, a beam; and a piezo resistance element. The weight is arranged to displace upon receiving acceleration. The base portion is disposed around the weight apart from the weight. The beam has one end portion connected to the weight and the other end portion connected to the base portion. The beam also has a thick layer portion and a thin layer portion having a thickness smaller than that of the thick layer portion. The piezo resistance element is disposed over the thick layer portion and the thin layer portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening-closing lid for opening and closing an opening portion formed in an apparatus main body; a detection unit for detecting an open state of the opening-closing lid; an execution unit for executing a specific operation; a main power source for supplying power to the execution unit; a retaining unit for retaining an open history indicating the open state of the opening-closing lid when the detection unit detects the open state of the opening-closing lid during a period of time when the main power source does not supply power to the execution unit; and a determining unit for determining whether the execution unit executes the specific operation according to the open history retained in the retaining unit when the main power source starts supplying power to the execution unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a package substrate having a front surface and a backside surface; an electrode pad formed on the front surface; an outer connection pad formed on the backside surface and electrically connected to the electrode pad; a semiconductor chip mounted on the front surface and having an electrode electrically connected to the electrode pad; a sealing resin layer having a through hole formed with a die-molding and reaching the electrode pad for sealing the semiconductor chip; and a through electrode filled in the through hole with a conductive material and having one end portion electrically connected to the electrode pad and the other end portion exposed from the sealing resin layer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supporting member abutting against an image supporting member for developing a static latent image on the image supporting member. In a state that a film member is disposed between the image supporting member and the developer supporting member, it is arranged such that the film member is extended with a tensional force N (N) when the image supporting member and the developer supporting member rotate. The tensional force N has a relationship as follows: (A×B×exp(0.32×F?16))/N?11.6 where A (mm) is a difference between an outer diameter of a center portion of the developer supporting member and an outer diameter of an end portion of the developer supporting member; B (mm) is a wobble amount of the end portion of the developer supporting member; and F (degree) is an Asker C hardness of the developer supporting member.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is connected to a specific network for processing an image according to image information input to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes an apparatus information storage unit for storing apparatus information of other apparatus connected to the network; an inquiry unit for inquiring an operational state of the other apparatus according to the apparatus information stored in the apparatus information storage unit; a determining unit for determining the operational state of the other apparatus according to an inquiry result of the inquiry unit; and a switching control unit for switching an operational state of the image processing apparatus between an active state and a power save state according to a number of apparatus that the determining unit determines as being in the active state.

Abstract: To provide a valve element unit and a gate valve apparatus which realize a reduction in manufacturing cost by a compact and simple structure and smooth rotary driving of the valve element without greatly moving the valve element in the direction of the center of rotation when the valve element is rotary driven. When a valve element unit 52 is rotary driven by valve element driving mechanisms 54, a rotary drive radius R2 of longitudinal both end sides of a first valve element 56 is smaller than a rotary drive radius R1 of a longitudinal center side of the first valve element 56.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing including a first housing unit and a second housing unit. The first housing unit is fitted to the second housing unit to form a fitting opening for receiving a plug connector. The first housing unit includes a rotatable section, and the second housing unit includes a support section for supporting the rotatable section to be rotatable to freely open the fitting opening. The support section is arranged to release the rotatable section so that the first housing unit is separated from the second housing unit when a force is applied to the support section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device provided with channel-type structures for transporting and/or storing a liquid and/or gaseous medium. The device comprises a first (1) substrate layer and a second substrate layer (2), and a functional element (3) that is sandwiched between the first and second substrate layers, the channel-type structures being embodied in the first and/or second substrate layer. The first and second substrate layers are solidly and permanently interconnected, and the functional element is clamped between the first and second substrate layers. The functional element is elastic, the first and second layers are rigid, and the channel-type structures in the first and/or second substrate layers are at least partially sealed in a gas-tight and/or liquid-tight manner due to the functional element.

Abstract: A starting circuit of a starting device for a high-pressure discharge lamp including an auxiliary light source has a diode placed in a forward direction in one of a pair of output lines which connect a main lighting circuit for generating AC voltage to the high-pressure discharge lamp and the auxiliary light source; a capacitor having one end connected to a cathode side of the diode; a boosting transformer including a primary winding, and a secondary winding having one end connected to an anode side of the diode or to the other output line and also having the other end connected to the other end of the capacitor; a high-frequency voltage generation circuit for continuously generating high-frequency voltage in combination with the primary winding; and a short-circuit switch for maintaining a short-circuit condition at both ends of the diode after the high-pressure discharge lamp is started.

Abstract: A coaxial connector for connecting a coaxial plug includes an insulation housing including an insertion opening portion and a pressing deformation portion situated above the insertion opening portion; an outer conductive member including a pressing portion for pressing the pressing deformation portion; a stationary terminal including a contact portion; and a movable terminal fitted into the insertion opening portion and including a fixed portion and an elastic portion. The elastic portion is separated from the contact portion so that the movable terminal is electrically disconnected from the stationary terminal when the coaxial plug is inserted into the insulation housing. The elastic portion contacts with the central conductive member so that the movable terminal is electrically connected to the central conductive member when the coaxial plug is inserted into the insulation housing.

Abstract: An image forming unit includes an image forming unit main body; and a developer storage unit detachably attached to the image forming unit main body. The image forming unit main body includes a developer retaining space for retaining developer and a supply opening for supplying developer to the developer retaining space. The developer storage unit includes a discharge opening for discharging developer to the developer retaining space. The image forming unit main body further includes a movable member moving relative to the discharge opening and the supply opening.

Abstract: In a method of processing an image, a plurality of pages of data is reduced and created as collected data, and specific information corresponding to a sheet of a print medium is created. The collected data and the specific information are edited in a data editing section and transmitted to a printing section. Even when a plurality of the pages of data is printed in a sheet after reduced, the specific information is printed under a non-reduced condition, thus making it possible to print the specific information which is easily distinguished.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a first conductive type semiconductor layer disposed on a main surface of the substrate; a second conductive type semiconductor layer disposed on the first conductive type semiconductor layer; a plurality of light emitting elements; and a second conductive side wiring pattern for commonly connecting the second conductive type semiconductor layer in the light emitting elements arranged adjacently. The second conductive type semiconductor layer includes a first conductive type semiconductor connection surface and a second conductive type semiconductor connection surface between the first conductive type semiconductor layer.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading condition receiving unit for receiving a reading condition; an image reading unit for reading the original according to the reading condition to obtain image information; a storage unit for storing the image information; a reading mode selection unit for selecting a first reading mode or a second reading mode according to a result of comparison between an image information amount and a memory capacity of the storage unit; and a data reading unit for reading the image information from the storage unit according to the reading mode. The data reading unit reads the image information per page in the first reading mode. The data reading unit reads the image information per block in the second reading mode.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supporting member for supporting developer and a developer charging member disposed to face the developer supporting member for charging and supplying the developer to the developer supporting member. The developer supporting member has a surface having a calculated average surface roughness Ra between 0.1 ?m and 0.6 ?m and a surface free energy SFE between 15 mN/m and 26 mN/m. Further, the developer charging member has an Asker F hardness Haf between 24° and 56°.

Abstract: A developing device includes a storage portion for retaining developer; a light guide member for forming a plurality of optical paths passing through the storage unit to detect an amount of the developer in the storage portion; a plurality of window members formed in a wall of the storage portion for passing the optical paths therethrough; a blocking member disposed to be movable for blocking the window members; and a drive unit for moving the blocking member. The blocking member is disposed on each of the optical paths. When the drive unit moves the blocking member, the blocking member periodically blocks and opens each of the optical paths in a specific cycle.