Abstract: A material piece scooping device, which extracts a material piece from a surface of an object to be scooped by cutting electric discharges between an electric discharge electrode and the object to be scooped, includes a rotation drive section 40, an arm portion 30 driven by the rotation drive section to rotate around a rotational axis X, an electrode holder 20 supported by the arm portion, and an electric discharge electrode 10 detachably mounted on the electrode holder. A sliding section for sliding the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis and an arm length adjusting section for adjusting a length of the arm portion from the rotational axis thereof are provided, so as to adjust a trajectory of the electric discharge electrode as the arm portion rotates. The material piece can be scooped from the object along a line of the trajectory gnawing into the object.

Abstract: A copper alloy strip material for electrical/electronic equipment includes a copper alloy containing 2.0 to 5.0 mass % Ni, 0.43 to 1.5 mass % Si, and a remaining component formed of Cu and an unavoidable impurity. Three types of intermetallic compounds A, B, and C comprising Ni and Si in a total amount of 50 mass % or more are contained. The intermetallic compound A has a compound diameter of 0.3 ?m to 2 ?m, the intermetallic compound B has a compound diameter of 0.05 ?m to less than 0.3 ?m, and the intermetallic compound C has a compound diameter of more than 0.001 ?m to less than 0.05 ?m.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer supporting member having an elastic layer and a surface layer, and a supply member for supplying developer to the developer supporting member. The surface layer is formed of a mixture containing at least an acrylic resin and a polyether type urethane resin. The developer supporting member and the supply member are configured so that the following equations are satisfied: 20?A1?80 0.6?D?2.0 45+0.1×A1×D?F×N?65 where A1 is a weight ratio (%) of the acrylic resin relative to a total weight of the acrylic resin and the polyether type urethane resin, F is an Asker F hardness (degree) of a surface of the supply member, and N is an overlap amount (mm) representing a biting amount of the supply member relative to the developer supporting member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transportation member rotating to transport a medium or developer; a blade member disposed to abut against the transportation member for removing an object adhering to a surface of the transportation member; and a retaining member disposed on an upstream side of the blade member in a direction that the transportation member rotates and abutting against the transportation member for retaining the object adhering to the surface of the transportation member.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing and a terminal. The housing includes a terminal hole and a lance portion disposed in the terminal hole. The lance portion includes a guide surface; an engaging front edge surface; and a regulated surface. The terminal includes a contact portion; a connection portion; an engaging portion; a curved portion; and a regulating portion. The engaging portion pushes the guide surface to deform and is guided with the guide surface when the terminal is inserted into the terminal hole. When the terminal is completely fitted in the terminal hole, the engaging portion faces the engaging front edge surface and engages the lance portion.

Abstract: The moving carrier which sticks to the surface is provided with easy transverse movements on the surface. The moving carrier has at least two sets of driving wheels or one set of caterpillar on each of its right and the left sides relative to its traveling direction. One of the driving wheels is situated in the vicinity of the center of the sticking force; and another of the driving wheels is situated away from the center of the sticking force. The moving carrier can pivot at contact area as the pivot axis; at the contact area, one of the driving wheels situated in the vicinity of the center of the sticking force is contacted with the surface; and one of the moving units is driven and another moving units is not driven.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a data reading and writing unit for reading and writing data with respect to a specific recording medium; a data incompatibility avoiding unit for performing a data incompatibility avoiding process during reading and writing the data associated with cut-off of power; an incompatibility avoiding process starting unit for detecting a cut-off signal of power and controlling the data incompatibility avoiding unit to start the data incompatibility avoiding process; and a power cut-off delaying unit for delaying cut-off of the power for a specific period of time after the cut-off signal is detected when the data incompatibility avoiding unit starts the data incompatibility avoiding process. The data incompatibility avoiding unit performs the data incompatibility avoiding process within the specific period of time.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor chip package includes an acceleration sensor chip; a sensor control chip; a re-wiring layer; an outer terminal; a sealing portion; and a substrate. The acceleration sensor chip includes a frame portion; a movable structure; a detection element; and an electrode pad electrically. The re-wiring layer has a wiring portion connected to the electrode pad. The electrode pad is electrically connected to a conductive bump. The sensor control chip has a sensor control electrode pad electrically connected to the conductive bump. The outer terminal is connected to the wiring portion and disposed in the outer region. The sealing portion seals the sensor control chip, the electrode pad, and the re-wiring layer, so that the movable structure is movable. The substrate is attached to the acceleration sensor chip to seal an opening portion.

Abstract: A lighting lens can sufficiently suppress unevenness color and improve light use efficiency. This light lens has: first incidence surface 20 that is orthogonal to the optical axis; second incidence surface 21 that expands the radius toward the light emitting element 8 side; total reflection surface 22 that expands the radius toward the emitting side; first emission surface 24 that mainly emits light incident on first incidence surface 21, toward illuminated surface 18; and second emission surface 25 that emits light incident on a second incidence surface, toward illuminated surface 18, and forms second emission surface 25 such that positive power in second emission surface 25 is weaker than positive power of first emission surface 24.

Abstract: A charging device for charging an image supporting member includes a charging roller for charging the image supporting member; and a cleaning member for cleaning the surface of the charging roller. The charging roller has a surface, and the surface has irregularity oriented in a direction opposite to a direction that the cleaning member slides against the charging roller. Further, the surface has a maximum peak height Rp within a range of 2 ?m?Rp?10 ?m, and an average profile length RSm within a range of 40 ?m?RSm?200 ?m.

Abstract: A photodiode includes a photosensitive element formed in a silicon semiconductor layer on an insulation layer. The photosensitive element includes a low concentration diffusion layer, a P-type high concentration diffusion layer, and an N-type high concentration diffusion layer. A method of producing the photodiode includes the steps of: forming an insulation material layer on the silicon semiconductor layer after the P-type impurity and the N-type impurity are implanted into the low concentration diffusion layer, the P-type high concentration diffusion layer, and the N-type high concentration diffusion layer; forming an opening portion in the insulation material layer in an area for forming the low concentration diffusion layer; and etching the silicon semiconductor layer in the area for forming the low concentration diffusion layer so that a thickness of the silicon semiconductor layer is reduced to a specific level.

Abstract: A lens array includes a plurality of lens assembly members with a plurality of lenses and a light blocking member with a plurality of apertures arranged therein. The lens assembly members are arranged so that an optical axis of each of the lenses of one of the lens assembly members is aligned with an optical axis of each of the lenses of another of the lens assembly members. Further, the lens assembly members and the light blocking member are arranged so that the following relationship is satisfied: ( PX 2 ) 2 + ( PY 4 ) 2 ? RA ? LO - F F where PY is a pitch of the lenses in one row, PX is a pitch of the rows, F is a focal length of each of the lenses, LO is a distance between each of the lenses and an object surface thereof, and RA is a distance between the optical axis and an inner surface of the aperture.

Abstract: A method of measuring a resistivity of a sidewall of a contact hole formed in a semiconductor device, wherein said semiconductor device includes a first electrode formed on a substrate; a second electrode formed on the first electrode with an insulating film in between; a resist pattern formed on the first electrode and the second electrode; a contact hole formed in the first electrode and the second electrode; and an organic film deposited on the sidewall of the contact hole, includes the steps of: placing a probe needle on the first electrode and the second electrode so that the probe needle contacts with the first electrode and the second electrode several times; establishing electrical conductivity of the probe needle relative to the first electrode and the second electrode; and measuring the resistivity of the organic film between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A developing device is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. The developing device includes a first frame member; a second frame member disposed to face the first frame member; a shaft member for connecting the first frame member and the second frame member; a first engagement member disposed at one end portion of the shaft member for engaging the first frame member; a second engagement member disposed at the other end portion of the shaft member for engaging the second frame member; and a fixing member for fixing at least one of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.

Abstract: An electrical connector is to be connected to a flat conductive member. The electrical connector includes a housing; a terminal held in the housing; and a pressing member supported on the supporting portion to be rotatable for pressing the flat conductive member against the terminal. The terminal includes a base portion, a contacting arm extending from the base portion, and a supporting portion facing the contacting arm. The contacting arm is arranged to form a space for receiving the flat conductive member between the contacting arm and the supporting portion. The contacting arm includes a first contacting portion and a second contacting portion. The first contacting portion is situated at a position closer to the supporting portion than the second contacting portion. The second contacting portion is situated at a position closer to the base portion than the first contacting portion.

Abstract: A method of transforming a geographic coordinate to a geographic location code includes the steps of: retrieving a latitude value and a longitude value of the geographic coordinate; quantizing the latitude value to a first integer value; quantizing the longitude value to a second integer value; converting the first integer value to a first code string, said first code string including a first digit representing a non-numeric character, a second digit representing a non-numeric character, and a third digit representing a numeric character; converting the second integer value to a second code string, said second code string including a fourth digit representing a non-numeric character, a fifth digit representing a non-numeric character, and a sixth digit representing a numeric character; and combining the first code string and the second code string to obtain the geographic location code having a fixed pattern of radix in a mixed radix notation system representation.

Abstract: There are provided trehalose transporter gene and a method of introducing trehalose into cells by using the gene. Candidates for the trehalose transporter genes were searched in P. vanderplanki EST, resulting in being obtained cDNA designated as Tret1. Tret1 encodes a 504 amino acid protein with 12 trans-membrane structures. Tret1 expression was induced by desiccation stress and predominant in the fat body. Functional expression of TRET1 in Xenopus oocytes showed that transport activity was specific for trehalose and independent of extracellular pH and electrochemical membrane potential. The direction of transport of TRET1 was reversible depending on the concentration gradient of trehalose. Apparent Km and Vmax of TRET1 for trehalose were extraordinarily high values. These results indicate that TRET1 is a facilitated, high-capacity trehalose-specific transporter. Tret1 is widespread in insects. Furthermore, TRET1 conferred trehalose permeability upon cells including those of vertebrates as well as insects.

Abstract: A vibration isolator for container, and the like, and a method of using the same which are applicable to general containers, and allow the loaded articles to be protected against vibration at the time of transportation, and the like, with the cost being held to a minimum. It is a vibration isolator (10) for container (C), and the like, which provides vibration isolation for cargo protection, being interposed beneath a transport container (C), a merchandise transport pallet, or the like, wherein shock absorbing members (50) are interposed between a base frame (20) and a load carrying frame (30); and at least at the four corners of the base frame (20), a latch receiving structure (25) of a twist lock (40) is disposed, and in the corresponding place in the load carrying frame (30), a twist lock (40) is disposed.

Abstract: A lens unit includes a lens array, a first light blocking member, and a second light blocking member. The lens array includes a plurality of lens pairs arranged in a substantially linear arrangement. Each of the lens pairs includes a first lens for forming an inverted reduced-size image of an object and a second lens for forming an inverted enlarged-size image of the inverted reduced-size image. The first light blocking member is disposed between the first lenses and the second lenses, and includes first apertures. The second light blocking member includes second apertures arranged in a substantially linear arrangement corresponding to an arrangement interval of the lens pairs, and having different opening portion shapes depending on a position of the lens pairs in an optical axis direction of the lens pairs. The second light blocking member is disposed at least between the first lenses and an object plane or the second lenses and an image plane.

Abstract: A surface emitting laser is provided with an upper reflecting mirror having a photonic crystal structure with a point defect at the center, and emits a laser beam from the side of a lower reflecting mirror. An upper electrode is formed on the point defect at the center, and element resistance is reduced. A material transparent to a wavelength of the laser beam is used for a substrate. The emission efficiency is improved by reducing the element resistance of the photonic crystal surface emitting laser.