Abstract: A transfer device includes a plurality of transfer members and a switch section. The switch section, in a first state, causes the transfer members to be pressed against a plurality of image bearing members. The switch section, in a second state, causes a transfer member opposed to a first image bearing member to be pressed against the first image bearing member, and causes a transfer member opposed to a second image bearing member to be separated from the second image bearing member. In the first state, toner images of different colors are transferred from the image bearing members to an intermediate transfer belt and superimposed together. In the second state, a single-color toner image is transferred from the first image bearing member to the intermediate transfer belt. The switch section changes a pressing force of the transfer member to the first image bearing member between the first and second states.

Abstract: The sheet transport mechanism of the present disclosure is provided with drive roller, driven roller, and roller pressing mechanism. The roller pressing mechanism presses the driven roller into contact against the drive roller. The driven roller includes a central driven roller, a first rotating shaft for supporting the central driven roller, at least one pair of outside driven rollers, and second rotating shafts supporting the outside driven rollers. The roller pressing mechanism includes a central pressing mechanism, and an outside pressing mechanism. The central pressing mechanism presses the central driven roller against the drive roller. The outside pressing mechanism presses the outside driven rollers against the drive roller.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes an oscillating mirror part, a torsion bar part, a piezoelectric element (driving part), a housing, and an optical element part. The oscillating mirror part includes a reflective surface capable of reflecting light from a first light source and a mass adjustment part formed on an opposite surface of the oscillating mirror part to the reflective surface and configured to be capable of reducing a mass thereof by exposure to laser light. The torsion bar part supports the oscillating mirror part. The piezoelectric element is configured to torsionally oscillate the oscillating mirror part about the torsion bar part. The housing accommodates the oscillating mirror part, the torsion bar part, and the piezoelectric element. The optical element part is configured to reflect or transmit the laser light from a second light source disposed outside of the housing to expose the mass adjustment part to the laser light.

Abstract: Disclosed are circuits and methods for increasing an output frequency of an inductance-capacitance (LC) oscillator. In some embodiments, the LC oscillator can be implemented as a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having differential outputs. When the VCO is implemented on a die, wirebond connections from the outputs to a ground results in an effective inductance that impacts a maximum frequency associated with the VCO. An electrical connection such as a wirebond between the differential outputs yields a reduction in the effective inductance thereby increasing the maximum frequency. In some embodiments, the wirebond between the differential outputs can be configured so that its contribution to mutual inductance is reduced or substantially nil.

Abstract: A multi-panel user interface includes one-tap access of a shopping-related function from a collapsed panel in an expandable panel user shopping interface without requiring expanding the collapsed panel.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a heating source and a fixing roller. The fixing belt has a sheet passing part and a non-sheet passing part. The fixing roller includes an elastic layer including first and second elastic parts. The first elastic part is provided on an inner diameter side of the sheet passing part. The second elastic part is provided on an inner diameter side of the non-sheet passing part. A gap is formed between a part of the elastic layer and the fixing belt in a state where the fixing belt is not heated. The part of the elastic layer is in close contact with the fixing belt in a state where the fixing belt is heated. The first elastic part includes a small-diameter part having a smaller external diameter than a part with a maximum external diameter of the second elastic part.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for mitigating interference between spectrally distinct wireless communication networks employing co-located, collaborating radios. A first base station is in a first network and communicates with a first radio within a first frequency range, and a second base station is in a second network and communicates with a second radio in a second frequency range. The first and second radios are geographically co-located, for example, within a public safety vehicle. The first radio determines a maximum level of interference it will accept based on current operational parameters, and communicates a corresponding threshold value to the second radio through a data link. The second radio sends a request to its base station to employ interim scheduling constraints governing uplink transmissions from the second radio, to thereby limit out of band emissions received by the first radio to a range that is less than the threshold interference level.

Abstract: Disclosed are circuits and method for reducing or eliminating reference spurs in frequency synthesizers. In some implementations, a phase-locked loop (PLL) such as a Frac-N PLL of a frequency synthesizer can include a phase frequency detector (PFD) configured to receive a reference signal and a feedback signal. The PFD can be configured to generate a first signal representative of a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal. The PLL can further include a compensation circuit configured to generate a compensation signal based on the first signal. The PLL can further includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) configured to generate an output signal based on the compensation signal. The compensation signal can include at least one feature for substantially eliminating one or more reference spurs associated with the PLL.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating section, a sensor section, an oscillating mechanism, and a control section. The operating section receives an operation command from an operator. The sensor section includes a pyroelectric infrared sensor configured to detect the presence of an object based on a change in infrared rays. The oscillating mechanism is configured to cause the sensor section to perform an oscillating movement. The control section is configured to control the oscillating mechanism to start the oscillating movement upon satisfaction of a condition that the operator as the object operates the operating section within a predetermined period of time after the object has been detected by the sensor section.

Abstract: Concept-based ranking is applied to the results of a search process. Concept-based ranking relies on the input query, that produced the search results, having pinnacle concept properties specified for some of its keyword-based search terms. For each record “r” of a search result, it can be assigned a concept-based ranking score as follows. For each query term “QT,” of the input query, the following can be performed. The set of occurrences of “QT,” in the record, can be determined. Based upon the pinnacle concept of “QT,” and certain characteristics of the set of occurrences, a value can be assigned to “QT.” Characteristics, of the set of occurrences, can include the type of pinnacle concept asserted by at least one sub-unit of the record in which there is an occurrence. Once each “QT” has been assigned a value, such values can be combined to produce a score for ranking the record.

Abstract: Provided is a controller for a solid state disk, to control simultaneous switching of pads. The controller for the solid state disk may control simultaneous switching of a plurality of output pads or a plurality of input pads that correspond to a plurality of channels. In particular, the controller may properly delay signals driven to the output pads or input pads, to reduce power supplied to the pads, and to prevent ground bouncing, as well as, maintain a quality of signals.

Abstract: A paper processing apparatus includes a tray, a conveying section, a catching member, a paper processing section, a moving mechanism, and a control section. The catching member includes an abutting surface which abuts a top part of paper in a conveying direction of the paper and a covering part which covers one of one surface and the other surface of the paper, and is disposed at a downstream side in the paper conveying direction. The control section controls the moving mechanism to move a paper processing section between a standby position at which the catching member is received in a processing region and a processing position at which the paper is received in the processing region. The control unit controls the conveying section to convey the paper to the tray in a state in which the moving mechanism positions the paper processing unit at the standby position.

Abstract: A grip-enabled touchscreen stylus for teaching a proper writing grip comprises a stylus shaft and a stylus tip for writing on a capacitive touchscreen electronic device. Three buttons situated around the stylus shaft activate the stylus tip. The stylus has a normally-off state, in which the tip is disabled and cannot interact with a touchscreen. When a thumb, index, and middle finger of a hand correctly grip the stylus by pressing all three buttons simultaneously, an actuator within the stylus causes the tip to activate in order to interact with the touchscreen. The stylus actuator may be mechanical, electronic, or electromechanical. The stylus may be supplemented by software or logic on the touchscreen-enabled device enabling the desired user experience of requiring proper grip on the stylus for touchscreen input to be validated.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a sheet detecting mechanism configured to detect a sheet. The sheet detecting mechanism includes an actuator, a link member, and a detecting part. The actuator swings by being pushed by the sheet. The link member swings in conjunction with the swing of the actuator. The detecting part detects the swing of the link member. When a shift of a position of the actuator with respect to the detecting part is caused, the actuator slides with respect to the link member to absorb the shift.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an instrument with a cleaning fluid includes a vessel defining a chamber and a port for at least partially filling the chamber with the fluid. The apparatus further includes an ultrasonic transducer for delivering ultrasonic energy to the fluid, and a vacuum pump for depressurizing the chamber. The apparatus further includes a rotatable device removably disposable in the chamber and having a rack defining a cavity for supporting the instrument. The rotatable device also has a fluid delivery member extending toward the cavity and having a fluid channel between an inlet and an outlet. The apparatus further includes a fluid transmission system in fluid communication with the chamber and the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member for circulating the fluid from the chamber through the fluid channel of the fluid delivery member. A method of cleaning an instrument is also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a developing device and a controller. The developing device includes a stirring member, rotatable at a first speed or at a second speed lower than the first speed, which varies, according to its speed, the amount of developer discharged out of the developing device. The controller drives the stirring member to rotate at the second speed, then switches the rotation speed of the stirring member to a third speed higher than the second speed but lower than the first speed, and then drives the stirring member to rotate at the third speed for a first period. The third speed is set higher the lower the fluidity of the developer.

Abstract: This application is directed to methods of using pressure balanced mud motors. The mud motor includes a power section to rotate a passageway housing and propel fluid through a passageway disposed in the passageway housing. The mud motor can also include a roller bearing assembly and a drive shaft assembly to improve the life and efficiency of the pressure balanced mud motor.

Abstract: This application is directed to a pressure balanced mud motor and a method of using the mud motor. The mud motor includes a power section to rotate a passageway housing and propel fluid through a passageway disposed in the passageway housing. The mud motor also includes a hydraulic apparatus for balancing a pressure drop experienced across a bearing assembly due to frictional flow of fluid through the passageway.

Abstract: An antenna array employing continuous transverse stubs as radiating elements includes a first conductive plate structure including a first set of continuous transverse stubs arranged on a first surface, and a second set of continuous transverse stubs arranged on the first surface, wherein a geometry of the first set of continuous transverse stubs is different from a geometry of the second set of continuous transverse stubs. A second conductive plate structure is disposed in a spaced relationship relative to the first conductive plate structure, the second conductive plate structure having a surface parallel to the first surface. A relative rotation apparatus imparts relative rotational movement between the first conductive plate structure and the second conductive plate structure.

Abstract: This application is directed to a pressure balanced mud motor and a method of using the mud motor. The mud motor includes a power section to rotate a passageway housing and propel fluid through a passageway disposed in the passageway housing. The mud motor also includes a roller bearing assembly to better handle the operational conditions and stresses involved with the use of a mud motor downhole.