Abstract: According to one embodiment, a controller of a stepping motor includes a table generating unit and a current controlling unit. The table generating unit generates a data table of a threshold by using values of induced voltage at frequencies of switching signal that changes a set value of a drive current, the threshold being proportional to a frequency of the switching signal within an operation region in which the frequency of the switching signal is lower than a predetermined frequency, the values of the induced voltage including a first induced voltage generated at a first frequency of the switching signal and a second induced voltage generated at a second frequency of the switching signal. The current controlling unit controls a value of the drive current in accordance with a comparison result between the threshold and an induced voltage that is detected at a frequency lower than the predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A magnetic detector comprises a first magnetic sensor configured to measure a first magnetic field component, a second magnetic sensor configured to measure a possible magnetic field component, a processor, and a memory configured to store a program. The program comprises closest proximity detection processing of detecting a timing at which the magnetic body passes a closest proximity position, closest proximity position component acquisition processing of acquiring the first magnetic field component measured at the timing and the possible magnetic field component, predetermined position component acquisition processing of acquiring the first magnetic field component when the magnetic body is at a predetermined position, distance estimation processing of estimating a third direction distance, and magnetic moment amount estimation processing of estimating a magnitude of the magnetic moment.

Abstract: An ink refill container includes a container main body including an ink storage chamber, an ink outlet-forming portion provided on an end portion of the container main body forming an ink outlet that allows the ink to flow out from the ink storage chamber, and a valve provided in the ink outlet-forming portion configured to openably seal the ink outlet, in which the ink outlet-forming portion includes a positioning portion on an outer side of the ink outlet-forming portion. in which the positioning portion is closer to the container main body than the valve is to the container main body in a central axis direction of the ink outlet, and in which the positioning portion partially abuts against an ink tank when the valve is opened for refilling the ink to the ink tank, to thereby position the valve relative to the ink tank.

Abstract: The particle measurement device includes: an acquiring unit configured to acquire pad surface shape data indicating a surface shape of an electrode pad including a probe needle mark where a probe needle has contacted; a roughness calculating unit configured to calculate volume of a recessed portion recessed from a pad reference surface and volume of a protruding portion protruding from the pad reference surface based on the pad surface shape data; and a particle quantity calculating unit configured to calculate a particle quantity from a volume difference between the volume of the recessed portion and the volume of the protruding portion.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program capable of predicting an attenuation of electromagnetic waves in an upper airspace of a target area in consideration of the influence of long-term weather changes in future are provided. An apparatus for predicting an attenuation of electromagnetic waves between a radio apparatus located above a target area and a terrestrial surface is provided with a data acquisition section for acquiring past weather data in the target area, and an estimation section for estimating a weather corresponding to a future target year in the upper airspace of the target area based on the past weather data, and estimating an attenuation of electromagnetic waves based on an estimation result of the weather.

Abstract: A health assessment system includes a processor that acquires biometric measurement data measured by a wearable terminal worn by a target person, the biometric measurement data being biometric data of the target person; generates complementary biometric data for complementing the biometric measurement data in a missing period in which the acquisition unit is not able to acquire the biometric measurement data from the wearable terminal; and assesses a health condition of the target person based on the biometric measurement data and the complementary biometric data, the processor acquires exercise information, which is information about exercise of the target person, from a mobile terminal carried by the target person, generates the complementary biometric data in the missing period, based on the exercise information of the target person which is obtained from the mobile terminal.

Abstract: A driver support system includes: an acquisition unit that acquires biometric data of a driver of a moving object; an evaluation unit that evaluates a health condition of the driver; and an interactive response unit that executes an interaction operation for interactive response with the driver using an HMI device mounted on the moving object, the evaluation unit being configured to; when estimating based on the biometric data for the driver that the health condition of the driver is poor, instruct the interactive response unit to execute the interaction operation, thereby acquiring a response input, which is a response of the driver to a response facilitating output that facilitates the driver to respond in the interaction operation; and determine the health condition of the driver based on a degree of suitability of the response input to the response facilitating output.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a surface emitting laser according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following two steps: (1) a step of forming a semiconductor stacked structure on a substrate, the semiconductor stacked structure including an active layer, a first DBR layer of a first electrical conduction type, and a second DBR layer of a second electrical conduction type, the first DBR layer and the second DBR layer sandwiching the active layer, the second electrical conduction type being different from the first electrical conduction type; and (2) a step of forming a mesa section at a portion on the second DBR layer side in the semiconductor stacked structure and then forming an annular diffusion region of the first electrical conduction type at an outer edge of the mesa section by impurity diffusion from a side surface of the mesa section, the mesa section including the second DBR layer, the mesa section not including the active layer.

Abstract: A powder conveying device includes a drop conveyance passage, an intersecting conveyance passage, a conveying screw, and a floating member. Powder entering from an inflow port drops in the drop conveyance passage. The intersecting conveyance passage communicates with a lower end of the drop conveyance passage and extends in an intersecting direction that intersects the drop conveyance passage. The conveying screw is disposed in the intersecting conveyance passage and rotates in a specified direction to convey the powder in the intersecting direction. The floating member is movably installed in the drop conveyance passage and floats in the drop conveyance passage to move by contact with the conveying screw. The inflow port and the floating member interfere with each other to prevent the floating member from coming out of the inflow port of the drop conveyance passage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a nip forming member configured to form a transfer nip between the image bearer and the nip forming member; a nip pressure changer configured to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip; a transfer bias applier configured to apply, to the transfer nip, a transfer bias in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component; and a DC component adjuster configured to adjust the DC component in the transfer bias, according to the nip pressure that is changed by the nip pressure changer.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a vertical cavity surface emitting laser element having excellent electric responsiveness and high productivity and reliability, a method of producing the vertical cavity surface emitting laser element, and a photoelectric conversion apparatus. [Solving Means] A vertical cavity surface emitting laser element according to the present technology includes: a semiconductor stacked body.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer roller and a transfer counter roller. The transfer roller has an elastic layer, contacts with and separates from an image bearer including a belt-shaped elastic body, and nips a recording medium with the image bearer. The transfer counter roller has an elastic layer, is disposed facing the transfer roller, and nips the image bearer with the transfer roller. The transfer counter roller or the transfer roller is applied with a bias to transfer the toner image. Each of the elastic layers of the transfer roller and the transfer counter roller has an Asker C hardness of 75 or less. A difference in thickness between the elastic layers of the transfer roller and the transfer counter roller is ±3% or less.

Abstract: A biasing force adjusting device includes a roller, a roller holder, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The roller faces a mover. The roller holder holds the roller and is displaceable with respect to the mover. The first biasing member applies a first biasing force to the roller holder to press the roller against the mover. The second biasing member applies a second biasing force greater than the first biasing force to the roller holder to press the roller against the mover.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a driving apparatus of a DC brush motor includes: a drive circuit that supplies motor current to a coil of a DC brush motor; and a control circuit configured to: after a predetermined time interval has elapsed since starting-up of the DC brush motor, drop down step-by-step a limit value that sets an upper limit of the motor current; and detect turning into a state where the motor current is limited by the limit value.

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a light emission section (Em), a separation groove (152), and a high reflectance region (Hr). The light emission section (Em) includes a stack structure (100) including an active layer (100), a first reflector (110), and a second reflector (120). The active layer (130) performs light emission by current injection. The first reflector (110) and the second reflector (120) are stacked in a first direction with the active layer (130) interposed therebetween. The separation groove (152) is provided symmetrically around the light emission section (Em) on an emission surface of light from the stack structure (100) in the first direction. The separation groove (152) is dug in the stack structure (100) in the first direction. The high resistance region (Hr) is provided in the stack structure (100) on the outer side of an outermost shape of the separation groove (152) on the emission surface.

Abstract: Provided is a belt conveyor type dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, in which an associated component other than a belt can be easily and compactly installed. The dispensing mechanism for the article vending machine includes a drive section that is disposed in an article storing shelf 13 and on which articles arranged in a front-rear direction are carried, the drive section being configured to drive based on a vending command, and a belt conveyor unit 57 that sequentially dispenses the articles forward, the belt conveyor unit 57 includes two belt conveyors 71 moving forward and arranged away from each other in a right-left direction, and a detection unit 100 of an article detection device and a gear to drive a rear rotary shaft over which belts of the belt conveyors 71 are looped are arranged between the two belt conveyors 71.

Abstract: A cleaning device cleans a discharge wire that discharges electric charge onto a discharge target. The cleaning device moves in a longitudinal direction oldie discharge wire. The cleaning device includes a first contact portion that contacts and cleans the discharge wire and a second contact portion that contacts and cleans the discharge wire. When the first contact portion and the second contact portion clean the discharge wire, the first contact portion and the second contact portion sandwich the discharge wire in a discharge direction in which the discharge wire discharges the electric charge onto the discharge target. The discharge direction is parallel to a radial direction of the discharge wire.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a nip forming member configured to form a transfer nip between the image bearer and the nip forming member; a nip pressure changer configured to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip; a transfer bias applier configured to apply, to the transfer nip, a transfer bias in which an AC component is superimposed on a DC component; and a DC component adjuster configured to adjust the DC component in the transfer bias, according to the nip pressure that is changed by the nip pressure changer.

Abstract: Provided is an onium salt functioning as a photoacid generator. The photoacid generator can provide a chemically amplifiable photoresist composition when it is combined with a resin component whose solubility in alkali is increased by the action of an acid generated by active energy ray irradiation such as Light or electron beam irradiation. The present invention relates to an onium salt represented by the formula (1), containing an anion structure with a proportion of a facial isomer in a total of the facial isomer and a meridional isomer being 15.0% by weight or lower.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a control circuit that supplies, in accordance with a drive mode, drive signals to first to fourth switching elements connected to first and second output ends that supply excitation current and a power source and a ground therebetween, and the drive mode includes a discharge mode that turns ON the first and third switching elements on the power source side and a discharge mode that turns ON the second and fourth switching elements on the ground side.