Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a communication unit. When receiving a request to start communication from a second communication apparatus during communication with a first communication apparatus, the communication unit transmits to the second communication apparatus a communication disabled notification with a retransmission time period indicating a time until the request to start communication again. In addition, when receiving a request to start communication from a third communication apparatus after completing the communication with the first communication apparatus and before receiving the request to start communication sent again from the second communication apparatus based on the retransmission time period, the communication unit does not start data reception from the third communication apparatus so as to give priority to data communication with the second communication apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) including a collector layer located over a substrate, the collector layer including a semiconductor material, and a field effect transistor (FET) located over the substrate, the FET having a channel formed in the semiconductor material that forms the collector layer of the HBT. In some implementations, a second FET can be provided so as to be located over the substrate and configured to include a channel formed in a semiconductor material that forms an emitter of the HBT. One or more of the foregoing features can be implemented in devices such as a die, a packaged module, and a wireless device.

Abstract: Determining a parameter associated with whether a portion of a storage device is defective is disclosed. Determining comprises: obtaining known data associated with the portion; reading back from the portion to produce a read-back waveform; decoding the read-back waveform, including producing statistical information; and determining a parameter associated with whether the portion is defective based at least in part on the statistical information.

Abstract: A log managing unit identifies respective required time lengths for user operations performed to set setting values to plural setting items until a function is performed, and stores a setting operation log. An assistance function managing unit extracts at least one of (a) setting operation logs that include user operations returning to an initial screen of the function without setting the setting values after a user operation is performed to the initial screen, (b) setting operation logs that a required time length per step of the user operations on the basis of the required time lengths exceeds a predetermined value, and (c) setting operation logs that a total required time length of the required time lengths until the setting values are set exceeds a predetermined value, and registers to an operation assistance function a predetermined number of setting items with longest required time lengths in the extracted setting operation logs.

Abstract: A turbocharger system comprises a first relatively small high-pressure (HP) turbocharger and a second relatively large low pressure (LP) turbocharger. The turbine of the LP turbocharger is connected in series downstream of the turbine of the HP turbocharger in a first exhaust gas passage. An exhaust bypass flow passage provides a bypass flow path around the HP turbine. A rotary valve is located at a junction of the bypass flow passage and a first exhaust gas flow passage. The rotary valve comprises a valve rotor which is rotatable to selectively permit or block flow to the LP turbine from either the first exhaust gas passage or the bypass gas passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus continuously performs primary paper feeding in which paper is transported from a paper feeding roller to a resist position roller and secondary paper feeding in which the paper is transported from the resist position roller to an ejection roller while not stopping the resist position roller. The image forming apparatus divides image data into pieces of band data, stores the pieces of band data, calculates the number of specific bands corresponding to an in-advance paper feeding timing corresponding to the paper size and the paper orientation, and outputs an in-advance paper feeding timing notice when image process is completed up to the number of specific bands.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first storage device, a second storage device, a rendering unit, and a data handling unit. The rendering unit is configured (a) to generate intermediate data from image data, store the intermediate data in at least one of the first storage device and the second storage device, and (b) to generate bitmap image data on the basis of the intermediate data. The data handling unit is configured to select one of the first storage device and the second storage device as a storing place of the intermediate data on the basis of free area sizes of the first storage device and the second storage device and data transfer rates of the first storage device and the second storage device.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, a first heating source, a second heating source and a reflection body. The reflection body reflects radiant heat irradiated from the first heating source toward a fixing nip side portion of the heating member and blocks radiant heat irradiated from the second heating source toward the fixing nip side portion of the heating member. After the heating of the heating member by either one of the heating sources is started until the heating member is heated to the sheet-passable temperature, an amount of radiant heat from the second heating source is larger than that of radiant heat from the first heating source, and after the heating member is heated to the sheet-passable temperature, an amount of radiant heat from the first heating source is larger than that of radiant heat from the second heating source.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a toner containing part, a conveying member, and a vibration mechanism. The toner containing part contains a toner. The conveying member rotates around a rotation axis so as to convey the toner in the toner containing part. The vibration mechanism vibrates the conveying member in directions of the rotation axis.

Abstract: This image forming apparatus includes: a development device configured to develop a toner image of a print image; an image carrier configured to transfer the toner image to a paper sheet; a print engine configured to control the development device and the image carrier; and a controller configured to control the print engine to perform printing. The print engine is further configured to provide a transfer-completion notice to the controller upon detecting completion of transferring the toner image from the image carrier to the paper sheet. The controller is further configured to store image data of the print image in a video buffer, read out the image data from the video buffer, provide control information based on the image data to the print engine, and release the video buffer upon receiving the transfer-completion notice.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing part, a storing part and an adjusting part. The image carrier includes a surface. An electrostatic latent image formed on the surface is developed by a toner, and then, a toner image is formed on the surface. The developing part contains the toner supplied from a toner cartridge and supplies the toner to the image carrier. The storing part stores information relating to a replacement rate when a first toner in the developing part is replaced by a second toner, in a case where kinds of the first toner contained in the developing part and the second toner being supplied from the toner cartridge are different. The adjusting part adjusts density of the toner image on the basis of the replacement rate when a toner cartridge containing the first toner is replaced by another toner cartridge containing the second toner.

Abstract: A method for creating a run-time color-conversion look-up table is provided. A conceptual representation of a slice of a color conversion object is presented. The color conversion object is defined by a color coordinate system having a neutral axis and a plurality of color axes. The slice is defined by a plurality of grid points on the color coordinate system that are in a common plane orthogonal to the neutral axis. In addition, the slice is bound along a plurality of faces of the color conversion object for which at least one of the plurality of color axes is at a minimum or maximum value. The method further includes applying design rules for certain grid points and determining outputs for other grid points. The outputs for the slice are stored in a portion of the look-up table. A tool for creating a 3D look-up table is also described.

Abstract: A battery connector system for connecting a battery to a battery powered device is provided herein that includes an insert molded contact block comprising a contact block, a plurality of electrical contacts insert molded into the contact block, and an outer electrical connection for electrically coupling the plurality of electrical contacts to the battery powered device. The battery connector system further includes an inner electrical connection located on a housing enclosure for electrically coupling the battery housed in the housing enclosure to the outer electrical connection through the plurality of electrical contacts. The battery connector system further includes a sealed electrical path between the inner electrical connection and the outer electrical connection, wherein the sealed electrical path is formed by over molding the insert molded contact block with the housing enclosure.

Abstract: A recording medium storage apparatus has a storage cassette and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism restricts movement of the storage cassette in the drawing direction. The lock mechanism has an engaging portion on an apparatus body and an engaged portion on the storage cassette. While the storage cassette is drawn out of the apparatus body, an abutting portion of the engaging portion moves along a first slope on the engaged portion toward a peak portion while swinging in a second direction in which it retracts from the engaged portion, and meanwhile the engaged portion rotates in a third direction so that the peak portion is displaced from a protruding position to a guiding position.

Abstract: A recording medium feeding unit includes a recording medium loading plate, a main body, positioning members, racks, a pinion, a rotating shaft and an adjustment member. The main body holds the recording medium loading plate. The positioning members position the recording member in a widthwise direction. The racks are respectively provided on the positioning members, extend along the widthwise direction, and move in the widthwise direction integrally with the positioning members. The pinion is rotatably provided on the main body, is engaged with each of the racks, and is rotated in association with the movement of the racks. The rotating shaft rotatably supports the pinion. The adjustment member applies a rotation load to the pinion by allowing the pinion to be in contact therewith. The adjustment member is capable of adjusting the rotation load in a manner to move in the thickness direction of the recording medium loading plate.

Abstract: A voltage converter can be switched among two or more modes to produce an output voltage tracking a reference voltage that can be of an intermediate level between discrete levels corresponding to the modes. One or more voltages generated from a power supply voltage, such as a battery voltage, can be compared with the reference voltage to determine whether to adjust the mode. The reference voltage can be independent of the power supply voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including an image carrier and a developing device, and a developer recovery mechanism. The developing device includes, a developer carrier, and a developer discharge portion. The image forming section incorporates a developing device employing a first developing method where toner is caused to adhere to the image carrier by a magnetic brush formed on the developer carrier, or a developing device having a toner carrier between the developer carrier and the image carrier, and employing a second developing method where a toner layer is formed on the toner carrier by a magnetic brush formed on the developer carrier, and toner is caused to adhere to the image carrier by the toner layer formed on the toner. These developing devices, in the image forming section, each have a same positional relationship between the developer discharge portion and an image-carrier rotation shaft.

Abstract: The motion estimation engine has a multi-threaded structure and comprises a preprocessor for rough motion estimation of motion vectors and in-loop motion estimator for creating a coding tree unit, as well as a shared memory for interaction of the pre-processor with the in-loop motion estimator. The coding tree unit is formed by merging neighboring partitions of coding units using a list of best MV candidates.

Abstract: A developer conveyance device includes a housing and a conveyance member. The conveyance member is supported to the housing and rotates to convey developer. The conveyance member includes a shaft portion, a helical member, and a plurality of reinforcement members. The plurality of reinforcement members are disposed in a circumferential direction of rotation of the conveyance member.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light emitting diode (LED), a carriage, light receiving elements, a clamp circuit, an A/D convertor, and an image correction unit. The image correction unit is configured to: detect a document area where the reflected light is abnormal by comparing first image data with second image data; and replace the first image data corresponding to the abnormal document area with third image data. The first image data is generated by movement of the carriage in a sub-scanning direction of a first direction. The second image data is generated by movement of the carriage in the sub-scanning direction of a second direction at a reduced luminescence level of the capturing light illuminated on the document compared with a luminescence level in the movement of the carriage in the first direction. The third image data is the second image data where at least brightness is adjusted.