Abstract: In the present invention, disclosed is an organic photoreceptor comprising a conductive support and provided thereon, a photosensitive layer and a protective layer provided on the photosensitive layer, the protective layer formed with alumina particles each comprising a reactive organic group. Also provided is an organic photoreceptor with which electrophotographic images having high durability together with high image quality can be obtained by improving a wear property of the organic photoreceptor up to the same level as that of an amorphous silicon photoreceptor, as well as by improving image flow and image blur which are easy to be generated at high temperature and high humidity.

Abstract: A flow path regulating member for regulating an ink flow path leading into the channels is formed on the rear side of the head chip by exposure and development through lamination of the photo masks having an opening of a predetermined pattern, after a photosensitive resin film has been bonded on the rear side of the head chip by heat and pressure without using an adhesive; this head chip being characterized in that the channels, and drive walls made up of piezoelectric elements are arranged alternately, the apertures of the channels are arranged on the front side and rear side, respectively, and drive electrodes are formed in channels.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus has a first device driver and a second device driver installed thereon to use a first device and a second device, respectively. When the first device driver is activated, an operation setting screen to perform operation setting for the first device is displayed on a display portion. If a user changes the target device from the first device to the second device while performs operation setting via the operation setting screen, the second device driver for the second device takes over a value set using the first device driver and recorded in a memory.

Abstract: Provided are an objective lens with enhanced transmittance and an optical pickup apparatus which can record and/or reproduce information properly for three kinds of discs with different recording densities, even if a single lens is used as the objective lens. When all the expressions (1) to (3) are satisfied, excellent aberration characteristics can be obtained for the three kinds of discs: ?0.02?m1?0.02 (1); 0?(WD1?WD2)?1.57 m2+0.123 or 1.57 m2+0.24?(WD1?WD2)?0.7 (2); and 0?(WD1?WD3)?1.79 m3+0.333 or 1.66 m3+0.508?(WD1?WD3)?0.7 (3).

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device having high external quantum efficiency and long life. Also disclosed are an illuminating device and a display device. The organic electroluminescent device is characterized by containing at least one compound having a partial structure represented by the following general formula (1). [chemical formula 1] (1) In the formula, R1 represents a group (preferably an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group) having 4-20 carbon atoms in total and a substituent having a formula weight of 70-350 (preferably an alkyl group or an alkoxy group); R2-R4 independently represent a substituent; n2 represents a number of 0-4; n3 represents a number of 0-2; n4 represents a number of 0-8; and Q represents an atomic group necessary for forming an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring.

Abstract: In an organic electroluminescence element which incorporates a substrate having thereon an anode and a cathode and which incorporates a plurality of organic layers between the aforesaid anode and cathode, wherein at least one of the aforesaid organic layers is a first organic layer incorporating a compound having at most 10 repeating units, the first organic layer being prepared by coating the compound having at least one polymerizable group, followed by polymerization.

Abstract: A cleaning roller has a core and a polyurethane foam layer covering the core to form a peripheral surface of the cleaning roller adapted to be in contact with a peripheral surface of the toner image bearing member. The polyurethane foam is designed so that the number of cell per inch thereof is 30 or more and 60 or less and an open ratio of cell walls thereof is 3% or more and 50% or less.

Abstract: An embodiment has: weighting interpolation section for obtaining a pixel value for a missing pixel by a one-dimensional weighting interpolating method, using pixels in the vicinity of the missing pixel as reference pixels, and for generating a primarily interpolated image signal including the interpolated pixel value in place; frequency decomposition section for decomposing the primarily interpolated image signal into frequency components; halftone dot extraction sections for obtaining a halftone dot degree indicating a degree for the vicinity of the missing pixel to be in the halftone dot region, by using higher ones of these frequency components; correction value calculation section for calculating a correction value for the missing pixel, by using lower ones of these frequency components; and correction section for correcting the pixel value of the missing pixel in the primarily interpolated image signal using the correction value depending on the halftone dot degree.

Abstract: When carrying out monochrome printing, an engine unit of a printer calculates an amount of toner consumed as lubricant by a color photoreceptor according to the number of sheets to be printed (S63). When carrying out color printing, the engine unit calculates an amount of toner remaining on the color photoreceptor after the printing based on an amount of toner necessary for printing calculated from a printing rate and an amount of actually transferred toner that is calculated from the transfer rate (S65). The toner remaining on the color photoreceptor is used as lubricant, and the engine unit calculates an amount of toner by subtracting the residual toner amount from the amount of toner as lubricant calculated from the number of sheets for monochrome printing (S67), and supplies the calculated amount of toner as lubricant to the color photoreceptor when carrying out monochrome printing.

Abstract: Developing bias is set as follows. An electric field intensity between a developing roller and a photoconductor is set to cause normally-charged toner to fly in an image area and not to cause the toner to fly in a background area. Thus, the normally-charged toner does not fly in the background area. The normally-charged toner caused to fly is therefore unlikely to flick low-charged toner and oppositely-charged toner. The low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner will not adhere to the background area and cause image fogging. Accordingly, an image forming apparatus can be provided to prevent the low-charged toner and the oppositely-charged toner from adhering to the background area of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor and to avoid the occurrence of image fogging in the background area on a printed material.

Abstract: A printing system, comprises a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network and including sheet trays and a detecting section provided to each sheet tray and to detect a capacity of empty space of each sheet tray; and a sheet managing section to obtain a capacity of empty space of each sheet tray of each image forming apparatus and to compare the capacity of empty space of each sheet tray with a capacity of one bundle of sheets as a unit of supply. In the case that the capacity of empty space of a sheet tray among the plural sheet trays of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is equal to or larger than the capacity of one plural bundle of sheets, the sheet managing section notifies that sheet supply can be conducted by one bundle of sheets as a unit of supply to the sheet tray.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by transferring toner images for respective colors formed on plural rotary photoreceptor drums onto a sheet through an intermediate transfer member, when a controller judges that magnification deviation is generated in a main-scanning direction in superposition of the toner images for respective colors, the controller forms a first color registration deviation detecting mark for detecting at least an amount of deviation in the main scanning direction on the intermediate transfer member, and when the controller judges that the magnification deviation is not generated in the main-scanning direction in the superposition of toner images for respective colors, the controller forms a second color registration deviation detecting mark for detecting only an amount of deviation in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main-scanning direction on the intermediate transfer member.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a first lens group with a positive refractive power, including a reflection optical element; a second lens group with a negative refractive power; a third lens group with a positive refractive power; a fourth lens group with a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group with a negative refractive power. A power of the zoom lens varies by moving the second lens group, the fourth lens group, and the fifth lens group along an optical axis. A negative lens in the first lens group or a positive lens in the second lens group satisfies the predetermined conditions relating to a refractive index and an Abbe number.

Abstract: A computer readable recording medium storing an output instruction program for giving output instructions to multiple types of devices, wherein the output instruction program causes a computer to function as a control section which: displays an output setting screen divided into a common setting area for setting a common items common to the multiple types of devices, and an individual setting area for each device type for setting individual items set for each device type, when the output setting screen for setting an output conditions for the multiple types of devices is displayed on the display section; and, generates the output setting information which applies the output conditions set in the common setting area to all the device types, and applies the output conditions set in the individual setting area of each device type to the each device type.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having functions pertaining to image formation includes: a display unit for displaying a screen corresponding to each function; a storage unit for storing the screens to be displayed on the display unit and start-up factor information, one of the screens stored as an initial screen related to the start-up factor information, the initial screen being displayed at a time of starting up the image forming apparatus; and a control unit for making the image forming apparatus start when the start-up factor information is input from an information obtaining unit in a state where the image forming apparatus is not in operation, for deciding the initial screen to be displayed on the display unit by comparing the input start-up factor information to the start-up factor information stored in the storage unit, and for making the display unit display the decided initial screen.

Abstract: An image decoding apparatus and method are capable of reducing block noise without difference in gradation being lost, wherein, an image is divided into a plurality of blocks containing a plurality of pixels and the pixels are encoded with label information corresponding to representative values which represent gradation of pixels in the block, and when the size in the dynamic range (distribution range of gradation) of a focused block is not less than a prescribed multiple times the size in the dynamic range in an adjacent block, a representative value, in the focused block, whose difference from the intermediate value of representative values of the adjacent block is not more than a threshold value, is assumed to be adjusted, and a variance is provided to the representative value in a decoding process.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image former that prints target data on a sheet, a first judger that judges a supply unit that is replaceably loaded thereon and has a memory storing identification information uniquely given to the supply unit and information about a plurality of vendors providing the supply unit, is whether or not a reproduced product, an accessor that accesses a server owned by a vendor supplying the supply unit according to the information about the vendors providing the supply unit, which is stored in the memory of the supply unit, if the first judger judges that the supply unit is a reproduced product, a second judger that judges whether or not the identification information stored in the memory of the supply unit is registered in the server owned by the vendor supplying the supply unit, which is accessed by the accessor.

Abstract: A microchip which comprises: a resinous base having a plurality of fine channels formed on one side thereof, one or more cylindrical parts disposed so as to protrude from the other side, and a through-hole which pierces each cylindrical part along the axis thereof and communicates with the fine channel so that the diameter of the inner wall of the through-hole gradually decreases from the tip end of the cylindrical part toward the fine channel at a first inclination angle; and a resinous covering member bonded to that side of the resinous base on which the fine channels have been formed. The microchip has been configured so that a liquid sample can be introduced from the tip end of each cylindrical part through the through-hole. The wall thickness of the cylindrical part on the end side where a liquid sample is to be introduced has been made smaller than the wall thickness thereof on the base side where the cylindrical part has been formed, by forming a step therebetween.

Abstract: The method for forming an inkjet image provides a high-resolution image with a stable ink ejection and the image exhibits excellent curability, The image is formed using an inkjet recording head comprising a plurality of pressure chambers, a plurality of nozzles in communication with the pressure chambers and positioned on one side of the pressure chamber, and an ink chamber in communication with the pressure chamber and positioned on an opposite side of the pressure chamber. The ink composition in the ink chamber has a photo-initiator, a polymerizable compound and a gelling agent. The temperature of the ink composition in the ink chamber is kept at 70° C.-140° C. during an image recording and during standing-by. The ink composition is forced to flow in the ink chamber.

Abstract: Execution is provided of at least: the first processing for making the installer software store the group information that relates to information which classifies a plurality of apparatuses into groups and specifies the apparatuses belonging to each group or the address information indicating the location storing this group information, at the time of building the installer software for installing the universal control software that provides universal control of a plurality of the apparatuses; the second processing for notifying about the group information or address information to prompt the group setting of a plurality of the apparatuses when installing the universal control software using installer software; and the third processing for selecting an apparatus as the object of control from among the apparatuses specified by group information acquired from the storage location having been notified or specified by the address information, when universal control software is executed.