Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a test structure that includes two or more devices. Each device includes a wire disposed within a dielectric and a first via disposed over the wire and in electrical contact with the wire. Each device includes a test pad electrically connected to the first via and a polysilicon resistor electrically connected to the wire. Each of the polysilicon resistors of the two or more devices are electrically tied together. A method for forming the interconnect structure to be used for testing is also provided.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit and a static eliminating unit. The transfer unit transfers a toner image formed on an image holding body to a recording medium. The static eliminating unit is disposed downstream of the transfer unit in a transport direction in which the recording medium is transported, stores electric charge while the recording medium is passing through a recording medium transfer region, and releases the electric charge when a leading edge of the recording medium enters the recording medium transfer region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a plurality of process cartridges, and a moving member. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotation axis extending in a first direction. The plurality of process cartridges is configured to move between an engaging position and a release position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The photosensitive drum and the positioning member engage with each other in the engaging position, and are disengaged from each other releasing the engagement in the release position. The moving member in a pressing position is configured to exert pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the engaging position. The moving member in the non-pressing position is configured to release the pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the release position.

Abstract: A cleaning blade includes a resin substrate having a substantially planar shape and a coating layer that covers at least one edge of the resin substrate and that has a connection layer and a surface layer, the connection layer being formed so as to face an interface with the resin substrate and containing diamond-like carbon and at least one selected from the group consisting of titanium nitride, titanium silicon, titanium tungsten, titanium carbide, and titanium carbonitride, the surface layer covering the connection layer and containing diamond-like carbon.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body casing, a plurality of process cartridges, and a moving member. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum having a rotation axis extending in a first direction. The plurality of process cartridges is configured to move between an engaging position and a release position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The photosensitive drum and the positioning member engage with each other in the engaging position, and are disengaged from each other releasing the engagement in the release position. The moving member in a pressing position is configured to exert pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the engaging position. The moving member in the non-pressing position is configured to release the pressure so that the process cartridges are moved to the release position.

Abstract: A power conversion circuit comprises a rectifying circuit, a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, a fourth switching element, a series connection of a capacitor and an induction coil, a fifth switching element, a voltage detection section and a control circuit. The rectifying circuit rectifies an AC power supply. One side of the series connection of the capacitor and the induction coil is connected to a first connection point between the first switching element and the second switching element. The fifth switching element switches a state between a first connection state and a second connection state. The control circuit switches the fifth switching element between the first connection state and the second connection state based on the detection voltage by the voltage detection section and inputs a pulse signal to the first to the fourth switching elements.

Abstract: In an example implementation, a method of cleaning a silicon photoconductor includes contacting the silicon photoconductor with a base-peroxide solution, rinsing the silicon photoconductor with a liquid, and heating the silicon photoconductor to evaporate the liquid.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first image carrier, a first exposure part that forms a first electrostatic latent image in dot units on the first image carrier, a first development part that develops the first electrostatic latent image of the first image carrier using a first developer, and a controller that forms an inclined first band pattern of which bands incline with respect to a main scanning line direction on the first image carrier with the first exposure part and the first development part.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus includes a cylindrical rotatable member including an electroconductive layer and having a hole at least at one of longitudinal end portions, a driving member engaged with the longitudinal end portion to rotate the rotatable member and including a claw engaged with the hole, a coil provided inside the rotatable member for forming an alternating magnetic field for heat generation of the electroconductive layer, and a magnetic core. The rotatable member generates heat by a current flowing in a circumferential direction of the rotatable member induced in the electroconductive layer in the magnetic field. The rotatable member is provided with a slot at the longitudinal end, the slot being disposed at a position different from a position of the hole with respect to the circumferential direction of the rotatable member and overlapping the hole with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mounting portion, a lock mechanism, an image forming unit, a first detection processing unit, a second detection processing unit, a first release processing unit, and a second release processing unit. The first detection processing unit detects a first state where a remaining amount of the developer is less than a predetermined first reference amount. The second detection processing unit detects a second state where the remaining amount of the developer is equal to or more than the first reference amount and less than a predetermined second reference amount. The second reference amount is larger than the first reference amount. The first release processing unit releases the regulation on the attachment/removal of the developer housing portion when the first state is detected. The second release processing unit releases the regulation when unit the second state is detected and a predetermined release condition is met.

Abstract: A resistivity logging tool includes a plurality of excitation electrodes, at least one return electrode, and a plurality of monitor electrodes. The resistivity logging tool also includes a controller that determines a set of independent currents to be emitted by at least some of the plurality of excitation electrodes during an excitation cycle based on at least one measured downhole parameter and at least one predetermined constraint.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a frame including a first side plate and a second side plate, a cylindrical rotatable member, a heater, a holder having a length longer than a distance between the first and second side plates, a first preventing member, and a second preventing member. An image formed on a recording material is heated by heat of the heater while moving in a state in which the recording material contacts the rotatable member. The holder is unintegral with the first and second preventing members. The holder includes a positioning portion, contacting the first side plate, for positioning a position of the holder with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: When a ground fault detection device detects a ground fault of a photovoltaic string, for example, while a power conditioner is in operation, a great current may be flowing in a switching section from the photovoltaic string, so that components resistant to a great current have been used for the switching section. A ground fault detection device includes a stop determination unit configured to determine whether a power converter for converting electric power from a solar battery is in stoppage, and a ground fault detector configured to detect a ground fault of the solar battery in a state where the solar battery and the power converter are electrically disconnected from each other by a disconnection unit arranged between the solar battery and the power converter when the stop determination unit determines that the power converter is in stoppage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a movable endless belt, a first image bearing member, second image bearing members provided upstream of the first image bearing member with respect to a movement direction of the belt, a first transfer roller, second transfer rollers, an auxiliary roller provided upstream of a most upstream second transfer roller of the second transfer rollers with respect to the movement direction of the belt, and an executing portion capable of executing an operation in a full-color mode in a first roller arrangement and an operation in a monochromatic mode in a second roller arrangement.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes an image on a recording material. The fixing device includes a cylindrical rotatable member with an electroconductive layer and at least one slit at an end portion with respect to a generatrix direction, a coil, inside the rotatable member, the coil including a helically-shaped portion having a helical axis along the generatrix direction and forming an alternating magnetic field for causing the electroconductive layer to generate heat through electromagnetic induction heating, and a magnetic core provided inside the helically-shaped portion. The magnetic core does not form a loop outside the electroconductive layer, 70% or more of magnetic lines of force coming out of one end of the core and passing through an outside of the electroconductive layer return to another end of the core, and the image is fixed on the recording material by the generated heat.

Abstract: A toner container includes a container main body having a toner replenishment port and a shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism has a shutter member having a discharge port and a cover member supported by the shutter member so as to extend toward the replenishment port. The shutter member is movable in an opening direction from a closing position where the discharge port is retracted from the replenishment port to an opening position where the discharge port is communicated with the replenishment port and in a closing direction from the opening position to the closing position. The cover member has a tip end portion that extends toward the replenishment port as the shutter member moves in the closing direction, comes into contact with a downstream side edge portion of the replenishment port at the closing position and retracts from the replenishment port as the shutter member moves in the opening direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a cooler, an air passage switching member, a swing mechanism, a drive gear train, and a restricting mechanism. The air passage switching member is swingable and switches the path of cooling air produced by the cooler. The swing mechanism swings the air passage switching member. The drive gear train transmits a rotation driving force to the swing mechanism. The restricting mechanism restricts the swinging range of the swing mechanism. The swing mechanism has a first gear coupled to the drive gear train, and an actuator swingably coupled to the first gear with a predetermined load and coupled to the air passage switching member. By swinging the actuator together with the first gear while restricting the swinging range of the actuator with the restricting mechanism, the air passage switching member is switched between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A fingerprint information detection circuit comprises an amplification unit, a source follower unit, a reset unit, and a feedback unit. The amplification unit is coupled to the source follower unit. The reset unit is coupled to both the feedback unit and the amplification unit. The feedback unit and the amplification unit are coupled. The reset unit includes a first transistor and a reset transistor, wherein source and drain electrodes of the first transistor are coupled, wherein one of source and drain electrodes of the reset transistor is coupled to the source and drain electrodes of the first transistor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control portion configured to perform a cleaning operation including: a first step of causing a developer, which has a reversed polarity and is attracted to a surface of a charging roller, to have a normal polarity under a state in which the developer bearing member is separated from the image bearing member with the contact/separation unit; and a second step of collecting the developer, which has the normal polarity and is attracted to the surface of the image bearing member, to the developer bearing member, by rotating the image bearing member and the developer bearing member under a state in which the developer bearing member is brought into contact with the image bearing member with the contact/separation unit after performing the first step.

Abstract: A measurement circuit for a sensor, the measurement circuit includes at least one detection branch including at least a first series of at least one dipole and a second series of at least one dipole, the series being connected in parallel and connected at their inputs to a common input terminal, each series of dipole being connected to a distinct output terminal, and an electronic circuit including a bias circuit configured to apply a bias current to the detection branch from the input terminal, and a read circuit configured to impose on each output terminal the same potential referred to as the “reference potential” (VREF); the electronic circuit including a determination circuit for determining variations in impedances of each series of dipole of the detection branch on the basis of the current applied to each output terminal by the read circuit so as to keep the potentials equal.