Abstract: An improved 20/22 nm standard cell library, as depicted in FIGS. 1-491, achieves surprisingly significant improvements in manufacturing yield, as compared to a commercially-used library for the same fabrication process. The invention relates to product ICs made using this library (or topologically equivalent variants thereof), as well as processes for making such product ICs using said library (or its variants).

Abstract: A catheter is provided for medical ultrasound imaging that can be effectively used in combination with other imaging modalities to detect medical structures of interest as well as the catheter. Markers are added to the catheter with precision, which provides a means to merge the images from different modalities. Using a template, apertures for marker placement are formed in the catheter after creating the catheter housing. The ultrasound array may be used for accurate positioning of the template. Alternatively or additionally, a rigid insert with markers connects with the array. The insert holds the markers in place and may reduce artifacts in ultrasound scanning due to flexing of the array.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for converting wideband analog radio frequency (RF) signals to a digital domain. In an implementation, the system comprises: an amplifier for receiving and amplifying a first wideband analog RF signal comprising one or more first narrowband analog RF signals, each first narrowband analog RF signal occupying a distinct non-overlapping spectral band within a spectrum of the first wideband analog RF signal; N down converter modules; N analog-to-digital converters (ADCs); and a cross-connect for connecting any one of the N down converter modules to one or more of the N ADCs to analog-to-digital convert only the first narrowband analog RF signals occupying the distinct non-overlapping spectral bands. The method and system of the present disclosure track the occupied bandwidth of the narrowband analog RF signals that make up a wideband analog RF signal rather than a total bandwidth of the wideband analog RF signal.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes a plurality of toner particles each having a toner core, a shell layer, and needle-like particles. The needle-like particles adhere to a surface of the toner core. The shell layer contains a thermosetting resin and covers the needle-like particles and the toner core. The needle-like particles contain titanium oxide. The needle-like particles have a volume resistivity value of at least 1.0×101 ?·cm and no greater than 1.0×108 ?·cm. The needle-like particles have a number average major-axis diameter of at least 0.2 ?m and no greater than 2.0 ?m. The needle-like particles have a number average minor-axis diameter of at least 0.01 ?m and no greater than 0.10 ?m.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a configuration of a multi-cell battery pack, with at least two cells electrically connected in a first parallel arrangement, which is connected in series to a second parallel arrangement of at least two additional cells. Each cell is locally connected to a sensor to sense and control the current of the cells in parallel or parallel-series combination in the multi-cell battery pack. A control module is in communication with each sensor, and associated instructions electrically remove or disable a cell from the multi-cell battery pack determined to be defective based on measurements from an associated sensor. Accordingly, the configuration measures and monitors a state of health of each cell in the multi-cell battery pack, the measurements including temperature, voltage and current sensing.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heat source, a pressing member, a temperature sensor and a controller. A detected region whose temperature is detected by the temperature sensor is formed in the fixing belt, and an elastic layer of the detected region is provided with a hole in a part thereof in a circumferential direction. The controller judges that the fixing belt is rotating in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor alternately increases and decreases in a state that the heat source is heating the fixing belt, and judges that the fixing belt is not rotating in a case where the temperature detected by the temperature sensor does not alternately increase and decrease in the state that the heat source is heating the fixing belt.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer contains a charge generating material, a hole transport material, and a binder resin. The hole transport material contains an amine stilbene derivative represented by a general formula (1), and the binder resin contains a polycarbonate resin represented by a general formula (2).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a count unit, a count determination unit, a drawing process execution unit, and a count resetting unit. The count unit counts a drawing command for a vector object. The count determination unit determines whether or not a count of the drawing commands obtained by the count unit is equal to or larger than a threshold value. The drawing process execution unit executes, when the count determination unit determines that the count is equal to or larger than the threshold value all the drawing commands for the vector objects counted by the count unit prior to the count being equal to or larger than the threshold value. The count resetting unit resets the count obtained by the count unit when the drawing process execution unit executes the drawing command.

Abstract: An oscillator and method for generating a signal are provided. The oscillator comprises an electro-mechanical resonator and a reconfigurable oscillator driver. The reconfigurable oscillator driver starts the oscillator in single-ended mode to avoid latching and transitions the oscillator to differential mode in such a manner as to sustain oscillations therein. The reconfigurable oscillator driver comprises two back-to-back banks of inverters and an adjustable feedback resistor. In single-ended mode, one bank is disabled and the other bank is enabled. To transition to differential mode and improve the quality of the signal, the number of enabled inverters is equalized in both banks.

Abstract: Generally, the present disclosure is directed to gas monitoring systems that use inductive power transfer to safely power an electrically passive device included within a nuclear material storage container. In particular, the electrically passive device can include an inductive power receiver for receiving inductive power transfer through a wall of the nuclear material storage container. The power received by the inductive power receiver can be used to power one or more sensors included in the device. Thus, the device is not required to include active power generation components such as, for example, a battery, that increase the risk of a spark igniting flammable gases within the container.

Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes a switchback unit, a first conveying path, a second conveying path, a switching member, and a convey roller. The first conveying path conveys a sheet to the switchback unit. The second conveying path receives the sheet after the conveying direction is switched by the switchback unit. The switching member rotates about a rotation fulcrum axis extending in a sheet width direction so as to switch between a first attitude for guiding the sheet from the first conveying path to the switchback unit and a second attitude for guiding the sheet from the switchback unit to the second conveying path. The convey roller includes a rotation shaft disposed on the same axis as the rotation fulcrum axis of the switching member and has an outer circumference surface protruding more than a sheet guiding surface of the switching member.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile semiconductor memory, a storage circuit, and a processor. The processor records corresponding update information in a first log area when updating actual data in a first actual data area by the update data. The processor collects the update information recorded in the first log area at a specific timing. The processor writes the collected update information to a second log area. After writing the collected update information, the processor initializes the first log area. When the second log area becomes full, the processor writes the actual data in the first actual data area to the corresponding second actual data area. After writing the actual data, the processor initializes the first log area and the second log area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, a warming heater that heats a photoconductor drum, a fixing heater driving unit that turns a fixing heater on and off, a warming heater driving unit that turns the warming heater on and off, a mode transition unit that shifts an image forming operation mode, in which the image forming unit performs an image forming operation, to a sleep mode when a first period has elapsed after the image forming operation mode is finished, and a processor that turns off the fixing heater when the first period has elapsed after the image forming operation mode is finished and turns on the warming heater when a second period longer than the first period has elapsed after the image forming operation mode is finished.

Abstract: A mobile device includes an operation circuit, a display, an operation screen display, and a function execution circuit. The operation screen display displays an operation screen to operate the image forming apparatus on the display. The function execution circuit performs a function other than a function executable by the image forming apparatus alone and a specific function performed using the image forming apparatus. The function execution circuit performs the specific function according to an operation to an operation part in the operation screen displayed on the display via the operation circuit.

Abstract: A method of protecting a battery pack in which first and second battery cells, each having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an edge are aligned so that the positive electrodes of the first and second battery cells are adjacent. An electrically conductive busbar configured to be positioned on an edge of the first and second battery cells electrically connects the positive electrode of the first battery cell to a first protection device, the positive electrode of the second battery cell to a second protection device, the first protection device to the second protection device, and the negative electrode of the first battery cell to the negative electrode of the second battery cell. Also provided is a battery pack protection assembly.

Abstract: An optical sensor has a light emission section and a light reception section so arranged as to sandwich an opening part of a toner container from both sides when the toner container is attached, and a shutter slides in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner container and has a top surface member opening and closing a toner exhaust port of a cleaning device and a side surface member transmitting and blocking light of the optical sensor. A slit orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter is formed at the side surface member of the shutter, and the control section performs detection of attachment and detachment of the toner container based on a waveform pattern of light transmitted through the slits which pattern appears in a signal of the optical sensor.

Abstract: To provide an approval system associated with an approval workflow that identifies a signature document. A document management server for managing document data is connected with a client terminal (CLT) via an in-house LAN. Also, a seal to be affixed to a paper containing document specification information establishes a communication to the CLT. The seal reads the document specification information and user's fingerprint information and transmits the resulting pieces of information and impression information to the CLT. The document management server receives the document specification information, the fingerprint information and the impression information to confirm a coincidence between the received fingerprint and matching fingerprint and to confirm a coincidence between a set of the received document specification information and the received impression information and a set of matching document specification information and matching impression information, and to notify an approval situation to the CLT.

Abstract: A function providing system for providing a function to an image forming apparatus includes a server and a function relaying circuit. The server provides a function for the image forming apparatus. The function relaying circuit is located outside the image forming apparatus, the function relaying circuit providing the function to the image forming apparatus. The function relaying circuit uses the function corresponding to an instruction from the image forming apparatus, and the function relaying circuit transmits a use result of the function to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device and an authentication method able to restrict and disable an operation when a third person other than an authorized user who is registered as a user, and prevent information leakage without requiring the user a complicated operation. At a time when an operator inputs an authentication request by any one of the user identification numbers, when first information inputted via the input part is coincided with the first password related to the user identification number for which the authentication request is inputted, and when characteristic data at a time when the first information is inputted falls within a specified range of a histogram of the databases related to the user identification number for which the authentication request is inputted, the operator is authenticated as the user for which the authentication request is inputted.