Abstract: The position detection apparatus is provided comprising: an acquisition section that acquires a magnetic field pattern from a detection target apparatus comprising a detection unit having a plurality of magnetic sensor sections and a moving unit configured to provide the magnetic field pattern corresponding to the position with respect to the detection unit to the plurality of magnetic sensor sections; a reference pattern output section that outputs reference patterns respectively corresponding to each of a plurality of candidate positions of the moving unit with respect to the detection unit; and a detection section that detects which of the plurality of candidate positions is a position of the moving unit with respect to the detection unit based on a result of comparison of the acquired magnetic field pattern and the reference pattern corresponding to each of the plurality of candidate positions.

Abstract: A control unit of an image forming apparatus calculates an actual linear pressure of a cleaning blade by taking into account, with respect to an initial linear pressure of the cleaning blade measured in advance, a linear pressure reduction based on cumulative rotation time of an image carrier, a linear pressure reduction based on cumulative non-rotation time of the image carrier, and a linear pressure reduction based on an external temperature detected by a temperature detection unit, and the control unit outputs information for urging replacement of the cleaning blade to an output unit when a linear pressure difference between the actual linear pressure of the cleaning blade and a lower-limit linear pressure of the cleaning blade calculated in advance from an abrasion amount of the cleaning blade with respect to the cumulative number of rotations of the image carrier reaches a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic field detection device that includes a first and second soft magnetic bodies, and a magnetic detector. The first and second soft magnetic bodies extend along a first plane and are disposed in confronted relation in a third direction. The first plane includes both a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The third direction is orthogonal to both the first and second directions. The magnetic detector is provided between the first and second soft magnetic bodies in the third direction.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum supported by the frame. A coupling is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum such that a driving force can be transferred from the coupling to the photosensitive drum, and a developing roller is supported by the frame. A first gear is operatively connected to the photosensitive drum and the developing roller such that the driving force can be transmitted from the coupling to the developing roller. A second gear is positioned at a side of the process cartridge, with the second gear having a plurality of teeth, with at least some of the teeth being exposed teeth that are uncovered by the frame and exposed to outside of the process cartridge, and with a tip of at least one of the exposed teeth facing an axis of the photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container storing a two-component developer, a developer carrying member, and a regulation member. The developer carrying member includes a developing sleeve, and a magnet having a regulation pole opposite the regulation member and a main pole opposite the image carrying member. The regulation member is arranged downstream of the position at which the vertical magnetic force of the regulation pole is 0 [mT] but upstream of a position at which the vertical and horizontal magnetic forces of the regulation pole are equal. Let the horizontal magnetic force gradient at the position at which the horizontal magnetic force of the main pole is 0 [mT] be A and the horizontal magnetic force gradient at the upstream-side surface of the regulation member along the rotation direction of the developing sleeve be B, then |A|>2.45 and |B|<1.30.

Abstract: A switching monitoring device for monitoring a switching operation of a relay switching contact of a relay includes a control terminal, a controller, and an impedance circuit. The control terminal is configured to apply a control signal for switching the relay switching contact to the relay switching contact. The controller is configured to produce an excitation signal. The impedance circuit has a signal input and a signal output, and the controller applies the excitation signal to the signal input. The impedance circuit converts the excitation signal into a switching monitoring signal and outputs the switching monitoring signal at the signal output for application to the relay switching contact. The controller is further configured to detect a change in a signal present at the impedance circuit and, if the change in the signal is present, detect the switching operation of the relay switching contact.

Abstract: The invention discloses a position measuring mechanism and a measuring method of a linear motion system in which two sensors are respectively disposed on two sides of a stator, in addition to allowing a moving portion to perform bidirectional movement, under a premise of not increasing a quantity of the sensors, a measuring range of the sensors can be calculated based on information measured by the sensors themselves. Furthermore, the invention further combines measurement sections respectively measured by the two sensors to ensure an accuracy of position feedback, instead of the conventional technique using an operational method of combining sinusoidal and cosine signals.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor package comprising a magnetic multi-turn sensor die and a magnetic single turn sensor die, in which both sensor dies are packaged on the same lead frame. A method of manufacturing the magnetic sensor package is also provided. A magnetic sensor system comprising a rotating magnet and the magnetic sensor package, where the sensor package is arranged so that both sensor dies sit within a homogenous magnetic field, thereby ensuring that the output signal of each sensor is not corrupted by any stray fields.

Abstract: A measurement device for measuring an angular position of a movable body that is rotatable about an axis of rotation relative to a stationary body, the device comprising, facing each other, a movable portion with a first printed circuit having first tracks formed thereon defining a plurality of target patterns and a stationary portion with a second printed circuit having second tracks formed thereon defining a plurality of measurement patterns that are angularly distributed in regular manner. The target patterns are angularly distributed in irregular manner, the number of target patterns is not less than two, and the product of the number of target patterns multiplied by the number of measurement patterns is not less than twelve.

Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an electrical switching device that includes an electromagnetic actuator that includes a coil. The method includes: measuring electric current flowing through the coil; measuring supply electrical voltage of a control circuit for the actuator; injecting an electric current pulse into the coil; identifying a first time corresponding to a time for which the current flowing through the coil reaches a predetermined threshold value when the current increases following the injection of the pulse; and identifying a second time corresponding to a time for which the current flowing through the coil again reaches the predetermined threshold value when the current decreases after a spike. The method further includes estimating a resistance of the coil on the basis of a ratio of a sum of the values of the voltage that are measured between the second time and the first time, to a sum of the values of the current that are measured between the second time and the first time.

Abstract: An evaluation unit for a magnetostrictive displacement sensor and a magnetostrictive displacement sensor for determining a position of at least one position encoder having an input for receiving an electrical measurement signal generated by the magnetostrictive displacement sensor are proposed. The electrical measurement signal includes a position signal representing a position of a position encoder movable relative to a magnetostrictive device component and a reference signal representing a reference position, having a first evaluation branch for evaluating the measurement signal. The first evaluation branch is adapted to determine a position signal time of flight of the position signal and a first reference signal time of flight of the reference signal.

Abstract: A movable member includes a frame, a mounting portion, a rotatable image bearing member, a charging member, and a cleaning member. The cleaning member includes a base portion including a first surface positioned on one side of the frame, a second surface positioned on the other side of the frame, and a third surface, and includes a projected portion. The projected portion includes a first side surface positioned on the aforementioned the other side and a second side surface positioned on the aforementioned one side. The first side surface is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. The first side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned the other side with respect to the axial direction, and the second side surface constitutes an end surface of the projected portion on the aforementioned one side with respect to the axial direction.

Abstract: The magnetic detection system 100 is provided with a magnetic sensor 1, a storage unit 5, a first determination unit 42 for outputting whether or not the magnetic body 90 has passed as a first determination result 20, a second determination unit 43 for outputting whether or not the magnetic body has passed as a second determination result 21, a display unit 6 for displaying (notifying) the first determination result and the second determination result. The second determination unit is configured to have higher determination accuracy than the first determination unit.

Abstract: The relay safety system provided by the present invention includes a relay, an emergency stop device, a trigger detection circuit, a sticking detection circuit, and a power-off circuit. The emergency stop device is used to generate an emergency stop signal. The trigger detection circuit connects the relay and the emergency stop device, and is used to convert the emergency stop signal into a trigger signal. The sticking detection circuit is connected to the trigger detection circuit and the relay, and is used to detect the sticking signal generated by the relay, and generate a power-off signal according to the trigger signal and the sticking signal. The power-off circuit is connected to the emergency stop device, the relay and the sticking detection circuit, and receives the power-off signal, and disconnects the power of the relay according to the power-off signal.

Abstract: A method for determining an angular position between two parts having a magnetized body cylindrical of revolution and with a diametrical magnetization; and two measurement cells in positions spaced by a non-zero fixed angle strictly less than a 90 degree angle about the axis of rotation. The method includes arranging the two measurement cells on the second part such that their primary measurement axes are parallel to each other, and that their secondary measurement axes are parallel to each other; and determining a value representative of the relative angular position as a function of a ratio between the difference of the secondary components and the difference of the primary components, measured by the two cells.

Abstract: A method for fail-safe resolver excitation includes generating a resolver excitation signal and providing the resolver excitation signal to an input of a first resolver control circuit and to an input of a second resolver control circuit. The method also includes, in response to the first resolver control circuit detecting a fault in the resolver excitation signal provided to the first resolver control circuit: biasing, using the first resolver control circuit, a first resolver amplifier; and communicating, via a communication bus between the first resolver control circuit and the second resolver control circuit, an indication to the second resolver control circuit that the first resolver control circuit detected the fault in the resolver excitation signal provided to the first resolver control circuit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a controller, a drive unit, a developer bearing member, a regulation blade, and a sheet member. During non-image forming, the controller executes a control mode for controlling the drive unit to rotatably drive the developer bearing member in a second direction opposite to a first direction, and then rotatably drive the developer bearing member in the first direction. A portion above a horizontal line passing through a tip of the regulation blade out of the sheet member is disposed in a moving path of a developer born by the developer bearing member when the drive unit rotatably drives the developer bearing member in the second direction in the control mode, and is not disposed in the moving path of the developer born by the developer bearing member when the drive unit rotatably drives the developer bearing member in the first direction during image forming.

Abstract: A redundant angular position sensor comprising a first angular position sensor including a first excitation coil, a first sensing coil and a second sensing coil and a second angular position sensor. The second angular position sensor including a second excitation coil, a third sensing coil and a fourth sensing coil. Each of the first, second, third and fourth sensing coils comprising a respective clockwise winding portion and a respective counter-clockwise winding portion. The redundant angular position sensor further comprises a rotatable inductive coupling element positioned in overlying relation to the sensing coils and separated from the sensing coils by a gap, wherein the rotatable inductive coupling element comprises four, substantially evenly radially spaced, sector apertures.

Abstract: A means to enable the inspection of industrial materials in order to see hidden structural defects that can lead to an early failure, using electromagnetic fields and harmonic waves.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor system includes a magnet and a sensor device. The magnet has a shape and is movable along an axis between a first position and a second position and is optionally also rotatable about this axis. The magnetic sensor device has a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements for measuring at least two orthogonal magnetic field components or at least two orthogonal magnetic field gradients, and a processing circuit for determining an axial position of the magnet or whether the magnet is located in the first or second position based on the first and second magnetic field components or gradients, and optionally also for estimating or calculating an angular position of the magnet. A method of determining the axial and/or angular position. A magnetic sensor device includes features of the magnetic sensor system.