Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a sealing film for an organic EL element having excellent moisture resistance, due to the absence of pinholes. A sealing film of this invention is a sealing film for an organic EL element having a layered structure of at least three layers with a silicon nitride film and a silicon oxynitride film layered in alternation, and is characterized in that odd-numbered layers from the side of the organic EL element are silicon nitride films having a film thickness (T1) of 200 nm or greater, and even-numbered layers from the side of the organic EL element are silicon oxynitride films having a film thickness (T2) of 20 nm or greater and 50 nm or less.

Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens including, in order from an object side to an image side: a positive first lens unit having two positive lenses and a negative lens; a negative second lens unit having positive and negative lenses; a positive third lens unit; and a rear group including lens unit, wherein: with respect to a wide angle end, at a telephoto end, intervals between the first and second lens units, the second and third lens units, and the third lens unit and the rear group respectively change; and a focal length and an Abbe number of a material of the positive lens of the first lens unit that has a largest Abbe number among positive lenses, a refractive index and an Abbe number of a material of the positive lens of the second lens unit, and a focal length of the first lens unit are set appropriately.

Abstract: A communication system which is capable of improving the security of a protected image. The protected image on which a predetermined protection process has been carried out and authentication information are transmitted from an information processing apparatus to an image processing apparatus and an authentication server, respectively. Permission information for permitting removal of the predetermined protection process is issued from the authentication server based on the authentication information, and is obtained by the image processing apparatus. When the protected image is subjected to predetermined image processing carried out by the image processing apparatus, the content of the predetermined image processing is regulated to within a predetermined range indicated by the permission information.

Abstract: A processing apparatus enabling initial settings to be easily configured as a user desires e.g. upon purchase of the apparatus without unpacking the apparatus from a shipping carton. The processing apparatus comprises a wireless communication unit operable by an AC power supply or a battery, and an EEPROM operable by the AC power supply or the battery and stores initial settings information for the apparatus. An MCU of the processing apparatus determines whether electric power is currently supplied from the AC power supply or from the battery. Further, the MCU determines whether or not power-on history information on the AC power supply has been stored. When the battery is used and no power-on history information has been stored, the MCU rewrites the initial settings information stored in the EEPROM, based on initial settings information received from a dealer's PC by wireless communication.

Abstract: An image processor capable of detecting whether an image formed on a recording medium by the image forming apparatus is defective or non-defective with as high accuracy as possible and at high speed. A sheet-surface portion-determining section determines sheet-surface portions of a non-defective formed image on a pixel basis, and stores data of the sheet-surface portion/non-sheet-surface portion distribution, and extracts smallest RGB pixel values from image data of a group of pixels determined to correspond to a sheet-surface portion, to form RGB offset signals based on the smallest values. A sheet-surface portion determination-based offset section subtracts the values of the offset signals from the image data (RGB) of an inspection object. An image quality-determining section determines whether a formed image on the object is defective or non-defective on a pixel basis, using the most significant 1-bit RGB values subjected to the subtraction and the distribution data.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus, including an incident system that allows a beam from the light source to enter to deflector; and an imaging system that images the beam deflected by the deflector on a scanning surface, in which the incident system includes a first and second systems, the first system includes first and second elements each having a positive power with rotational symmetry, the light source is positioned at a shorter distance from the front focus position of the first element, the first element is formed integrally as a unit, powers of the second element and the first system, magnifications within main and sub-scanning sections of entire system, and focus movement within the main and sub-scanning sections on the scanning surface when the second element is moved in the optical axis direction are appropriately set.

Abstract: To provide an audio reproduction apparatus in which a general user inputs simple and easy settings so that audio beams of respective channels can be set. When an array speaker is installed in a room, the user inputs the shape of the room into the audio reproduction apparatus. Based on the shape of the room, the audio reproduction apparatus determines a beam control pattern indicating which directions audio signals of the channels should be formed respectively. The audio reproduction apparatus reads beam control data including delay times for forming the beams in the directions from a pattern memory, and automatically sets the beam control data in a DSP. Thus, only when the user inputs the shape of the room, the beams are controlled with a beam control pattern suitable to the room so that multi-channel audio can be reproduced optimally.

Abstract: A guide member is moved in interlocked relation to a rotary member rotating about the axis of a needle bar, so that a string-shaped material paid out from a bobbin is guided to a needle drop position of a sewing needle. The bobbin having the string-shaped material wound thereon is supported by a support member that is rotatable generally about the axis of the needle bar and disposed over a machine table in such a manner as to not hamper movement of an embroidery frame. The bobbin can be positioned at a distance from a machine head; thus, bobbins of increased sizes can be used. The support member is controlled in orientation, by means of a drive source, in accordance with rotation of the rotary member. The bobbin itself revolves around the machine head, which allows the string-shaped material to be constantly appropriately guided to the needle drop position.

Abstract: A plurality of musical instrument is connected to a server device through a network to form a storage system. The musical instrument generates performance data, and sends the performance data to the server device every time the performance data is generated. The server device receives the performance data sent from the musical instrument. The server device has a clock unit that measures date and time, and a storage unit that stores the performance data received by the receiving unit. Further, a file generation unit of the server device divides a polarity of the performance data stored in the storage unit into blocks based on the date and time of the performance data measured by the clock unit when the performance data is received by the receiving unit, and generates performance files corresponding to the blocks of the performance data.

Abstract: In a channel patching apparatus, an output patch setting part assigns a name to an audio signal of an internal channel of an audio device, which outputs the audio signal to a transmission channel of an audio network. A transmission channel allocation setting part allocates a transmission channel of the audio network to the audio signal assigned the name, and performs setting of the audio device such that the audio signal assigned the name is output from an internal channel associated with the audio signal assigned the name to the allocated transmission channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measurement apparatus that illuminates a surface to be tested having an aspheric surface using light beams that form spherical waves to measure a figure of the surface to be tested, including a detection unit configured to detect interference patterns between light beams from the surface to be tested and light beams from a reference surface, and a controller configured to control processing for obtaining a figure of the surface to be tested based on the interference patterns detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: A printing system which is capable of preventing print restriction information from affecting the embedding of copy restriction information, thereby being capable of positively performing copy restriction on printed documents. An information processing apparatus includes a print restriction information-receiving section that acquires print restriction information for restricting use of functions concerning printing processing, a copy restriction information-acquiring section that acquires copy restriction information for restricting copying of a document printed based on print data, and a copy restriction information and print restriction information-adding section that adds the copy restriction information and print restriction information to the print data.

Abstract: A control method for an image forming system capable of preventing reduction of the ability of the system even if a shift transportation function becomes an abnormal condition. An image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet. A first sheet process apparatus has a first moving unit receiving the sheet on which the image is formed and moving the sheet in a width direction. In a determination step, it is determined whether a second sheet process apparatus having a second moving unit moving the sheet in the width direction is connected to an upstream side of the first sheet process apparatus. In a detection step, it is detected an abnormal condition of the first moving unit. In a sheet movement step, the second moving unit moves the sheet in the width direction if an abnormal condition is detected and the second sheet process apparatus is connected.

Abstract: A tone generation apparatus detects a position of a mouthpiece section having been pressed by a human player holding the mouthpiece section in his or her mouth. The tone generation apparatus identifies a tone pitch on the basis of the detected position and human player's operation on a piston control. Also, the tone generation apparatus detects a pressure of breath blown by the human player into the mouthpiece section and generates a tone signal of a wind instrument having the identified tone pitch, and audibly reproduces the tone signal after amplifying the tone signal in accordance with a tone volume level corresponding to the detected pressure of breath.

Abstract: When a user logs in to an MFP (S200), places an original on a scanner, and instructs the MFP to start a process, the MFP scans the original to recognize characters and words, and creates a word appearance frequency list (S201). Thereafter, records (histories) contained in information about histories of jobs that were executed in the past are narrowed into histories that were executed by users having the same attribute as that of the login user (S202). Functions of jobs contained in identified histories are compared, and job histories having similar functions are grouped. Finally, functions and settings of remaining histories are displayed on a user interface (S204). When any of them is selected, a document is processed according to the selected function and setting (S205). Thereafter, a history of the job is stored (S206).

Abstract: A power factor correction type switching power supply unit can change reference values of an overcurrent limit at an optimum timing at a time of an overcurrent protection of a step-up type converter, so that no sudden change occurs in an inductor current. A detection level selection circuit selects one of first and second threshold values with a selection signal, and outputs it as an overcurrent detection level to an overcurrent detection circuit. An input voltage monitoring circuit determines the selection signal in such a way that the larger of two threshold values is selected when an alternating current input voltage exceeds a first reference voltage, and the smaller threshold value is selected when the alternating current input voltage does not exceed a second reference voltage, and outputs the selection signal to the detection level selection circuit at a timing at which the alternating current input voltage approaches a zero.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for communicating with an external apparatus via a network is provided that includes a generating unit for generating identification information capable of specifying a service in order to launch the service, a receiving unit for receiving input information input by a user with the external apparatus from the external apparatus via the network, a judging unit for judging whether or not the input information received by the receiving unit corresponds to the identification information generated by the generating unit, and a notifying unit for notifying the external apparatus of address information indicating an address of the information processing apparatus if the judging unit judges that the input information corresponds to the identification information.

Abstract: An image distribution system, which is connected via a network with a client for displaying an image picked up by an image sensing unit of a server, judges a communication status of the network. In addition, in accordance with a result of the judgment, the image distribution system changes a user interface for selecting a function request command for the image sensing unit of the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: The method includes first and second steps of placing an object in first and second media whose refractive indices are lower than that of the object, and of causing the reference light to enter the object to measure first and second transmitted wavefronts. When light rays entering a peripheral portion of the object and passing through a same point of the object are defined as first and second light rays, the method causes these light rays to proceed in directions mutually different to change an NA of the reference light such that the reference light after being transmitted through the object is brought closer to collimated light than that before entering the object. The method calculates an effective thickness of the object using geometric thicknesses thereof and calculates a refractive index distribution thereof using the first and second transmitted wavefronts and the effective thickness.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of generating highly accurate read timing of a patch image, thereby achieving highly accurate density adjustment and improving color stability. A patch image for color adjustment is read in read timing generated when a trigger bar is detected. The patch image and the trigger bar that are to be read by a color sensor are formed on a transfer material. Image formation is executed by a printer controller in an image forming condition set differently for the trigger bar and for the patch image.