Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a separation roller. The fixing member is configured to rotate in a first direction. The pressure member is configured to rotate in a second direction so as to allow fixing target to pass between the fixing member and the pressure member. The separation roller is configured to rotate only in the same direction as the first direction to separate the fixing target from the fixing member or to rotate only in the same direction as the second direction to separate the fixing target from the pressure member.

Abstract: An image reading device includes first carriage, a stepper motor, a shakiness level calculating section, and a timing adjusting section. The first carriage reads an image of a document to be read loaded on a document table. The stepper motor moves the first carriage relative to the document. The shakiness level calculating section calculates a shakiness level of the image, indicating shakiness of the image during reading by the first carriage, based on image data read by the first carriage with respect to a reference image incorporated into the document table. The timing adjusting section adjusts a rise timing of a step signal input to the stepper motor in accordance with the shakiness level that is calculated.

Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent ions from a MEG feed stream is presented. The system includes a chemical treatment tank where chemicals are mixed with the feed stream to form insoluble carbonate and hydroxide salts. The system also includes a membrane-type solid-liquid separation unit that receives the feed stream from the chemical treatment tank and separates it into a filtrate containing MEG and a retentate containing the insoluble salts. The system may also include washing the retentate to remove additional MEG, which is then recycled to a MEG regeneration or reclamation process. The system may also include a dryer that receives waste slurry from the solid-liquid separation unit and dries it to form a solid waste, thereby facilitating its handling, storage, and disposal.

Abstract: A short, efficient antenna utilizing a floating coax transmission line over ground or overlapping wire feed structure for reduced antenna size for use in handheld radios. An asymmetric transmission line radiator having a length (LTL) is oriented substantially planar to and proximal to a truncated ground plane, and having at one end an input/output connector, and at an other end a feed point at least one of above a ground plane and proximal to its edge. An exciter antenna in a form of a plate or bent wire is coupled to the feed point and is exterior to the edge of the ground plane and oriented substantially orthogonal to the ground plane, the exciter antenna having a larger dimension length (LEA) that is at least 50% smaller than the length LTL. The overall length of a perimeter of the antenna is approximately ½ a wavelength of a center frequency of the antenna.

Abstract: A total-current control unit is configured to add a fuser current of a fuser unit to a load current of the load to thereby obtain a total current to be supplied from a commercial power supply to the image forming apparatus, the total-current control unit being configured to control the total current to be at a predetermined limit value or less. An auxiliary power supply is configured to supply an auxiliary current to the load. The total-current control unit is further configured to provide first control to control the total current to be at the limit value or less and allow the auxiliary power supply to supply the auxiliary current to the load, thereby supplying, to the load, a current obtained by adding the auxiliary current to the load current, if an increase in the load current causes the total current to exceed the limit value.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein use near field communications to locate a set of antennas attached to, coupled with, or near the patient. A signal emitted by an antenna in the set of antennas can be received by the other antennas in the set. A second signal can be further transmitted from another antenna in the set. The differential phase and/or time shifts between the antennas from the multiple signal transmissions can contain sufficient information to find the locations of the antennas in antenna centric coordinates. The antenna locations can then be used to find a location of a pill transmitter swallowed by the patient.

Abstract: Carbon monoxide conversion processes are described for the conversion of carbon monoxide via hydrogenation to methanol. The process utilizes initial carbon monoxide priming before introduction of 3:1 hydrogen/carbon dioxide mixture to the reactor. After the optimum reaction conditions are established the feed of carbon monoxide may be withdrawn and any required carbon monoxide provided via reactor effluent recycle. The process provides for enhanced catalyst performance and life.

Abstract: A developer container includes a container body, a movable wall, and a stirring member. The container body is formed with a developer discharge port opening in a circumferential portion of the container body and communicating with an internal space for allowing discharge of developer therethrough. The movable wall includes an outer surface slidably in close contact with an inner surface of the container body, and a conveying surface defining a storage space for the developer, the movable wall being movable in the first direction in the internal space while conveying the developer in the storage space to the developer discharge port. The stirring member faces the developer discharge port in a direction intersecting the first direction and is rotatable to stir the developer in the storage space. The movement of the movable wall and the rotation of the stirring member are controlled independently of each other.

Abstract: A dynamic call based user ID allows subscriber units to be shared amongst a plurality of users or used for a plurality of roles/uses. A voiced call sign is transmitted by a calling subscriber unit to a targeted subscriber unit. A pattern in the voice transmission of the calling unit is detected, and the voiced call sign is compared to a list of pre-stored call signs. When a match between stored calls signs and the current call sign occurs, the calling subscriber unit saves the current call sign. Fixed network equipment (FNE) then associates the saved current call sign with a subscriber unit ID (SUID) of the calling unit. The dynamic association between the call sign and the SUID allows the subscriber unit to be shared amongst different users and for different uses/roles.

Abstract: At the present time, physicians often treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using radiofrequency (RF) catheter systems to ablate conducting tissue in the wall of the Left Atrium of the heart around the ostium of the pulmonary veins. These systems are expensive and take time consuming to use. The present invention circular ablation system CAS includes a multiplicity of expandable needles that can be expanded around a central axis and positioned to inject a fluid like ethanol to ablate conductive tissue in a ring around the ostium of a pulmonary vein quickly and without the need for expensive capital equipment. The expansion of the needles is accomplished by self-expanding or balloon expandable structures. The invention includes centering means so that the needles will be situated in a pattern surrounding the outside of the ostium of a vein. Also included are members that limit the distance of penetration of the needles into the wall of the left atrium.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, including a nonvolatile memory writing unit configured to write into the nonvolatile memory, at every predetermined time period in which change data is written into the volatile memory within that predetermined time period, the change data written into the volatile memory, a temporary area writing unit configured to write new change data into a temporary area while a primary area writing unit is writing any change data into the primary area, and a primary area transfer unit configured to transfer any change data written into the temporary area by the temporary area writing unit to the primary area when the primary area writing unit completes writing the change data into the primary area.

Abstract: A image processing device includes an image selection means and an image gathering means. The image selection means receives a plurality of rectangular selected images selected by user's operation. The image gathering means overlays specific sides of two selected images on each other among the plurality of selected images to gather the plurality of selected images within an output image corresponding to predetermined paper.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressurizing member, a heat source, and a temperature sensing device. The fixing belt is rotatably provided. The pressurizing member is rotatably provided and is in pressed contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressurizing member and the fixing belt. The heat source heats the fixing belt. The temperature sensing device detects the temperature of the fixing belt. The temperature sensing device has a sensing element that is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt in a neighboring region of an end portion of the fixing nip and a pressing member configured to press the sensing element against the inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises an in-phase-quadrature (IQ) signal amplifier having an IQ baseband input, an IQ mixer input connected to the IQ signal amplifier, a carrier leakage detector connected to outputs of the IQ mixer, and a carrier-null offset signal generator connected to the carrier leakage detector. The IQ mixer is configured to be driven by an IQ carrier signal. The carrier leakage detector is configured to output an in-phase leakage level measurement and a quadrature leakage level measurement in the absence of an IQ baseband signal at the IQ baseband input. The carrier-null offset signal generator is configured to (i) inject an in-phase carrier-null offset signal based on the in-phase leakage level measurement and (ii) inject a quadrature carrier-null offset signal based on the quadrature leakage level measurement.

Abstract: A write head is tested by measuring the effect that magnetic fields have on the inductance of the write head. For example, a perpendicular write head may be placed in a magnetic field with a first angle, e.g., non-parallel and non-perpendicular, to the air bearing surface and the inductance is measured. After altering the angle of the magnetic field the inductance is again tested. In another embodiment, the angles may be parallel and perpendicular to the air bearing surface. The difference in the inductance value can be used to determine a characteristic of the write head, such as the presence of a recording pole. In some embodiments, the inductance may be measured while applying a bias current to the write head while the write head is in an external magnetic field.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus are provided for distributing wireless local area network (WLAN) access information to a wireless communication device based on a current coverage area that the wireless communication device is located in. A location services server can determine, based on a current location of the wireless communication device, a current coverage area of the wireless communication device, and transmit information identifying the current coverage area to a directory services server. Based on the current coverage area, the public safety directory services server can determine relevant WLAN access information for the current coverage area, and transmit a message to the wireless communication device that includes the relevant WLAN access information.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the removing of a spark plug, or portions thereof, from a cylinder head are disclosed. The apparatus includes a lower socket with a longitudinal bore therethrough, a radial compression member disposed in the longitudinal bore of the lower socket, and a shaft disposed on a first end of the radial compression member. The radial compression member includes an internal surface defining a concavity that faces a longitudinal axis of the lower socket. The method includes compressing the radial compression member in a radial direction toward a longitudinal axis of the spark plug terminal, thereby decreasing an outer dimension of the radial compression member in the radial direction.

Abstract: A paper separating device for separating a paper sheet includes a frame member, an image carrier, a securing plate, and two types of assemblies. The two types of assemblies include: a first assembly that includes a separation claw configured to separate the paper sheet from the image carrier, a guiding member configured to guide the paper sheet, and a holder with an engaging portion; and a second assembly that engages the guiding member alone to the holder with the engaging portion without holding the separation claw. The frame member and the securing plate each include an assembly securing portion with an engaged portion to be engaged with the engaging portion of the holder. One of the two types of assemblies is secured to the assembly securing portion disposed at the securing plate while another is secured to the assembly securing portion disposed at the frame member.

Abstract: When image formation is not performed, an image forming apparatus performs a toner collection mode that includes a first positive rotation step of rotating a developer carrying member and a toner carrying member in the same direction as a direction at the time of image formation, in a state where a second bias applied to the toner carrying member is set at a higher voltage on the same polarity side as a toner than a first bias, and a reverse rotation step of rotating the developer carrying member and the toner carrying member in a direction reverse to the direction at the time of image formation after the first positive rotation step is performed, in a state where the first bias is set at a higher voltage on the same polarity side as the toner than the second bias.