Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a developer regulator, a developer supply passage, and a stopper. The developer bearer includes a magnetic field generator and is configured to bear a developer containing toner and magnetic carriers and conveys the developer to a developing area by rotation. A stopper prevents the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving to a surface of the developer bearer, while securing a supply path for passing the developer in the developer supply passage to the developer bearer between the stopper and an upper end of a side wall of the developer supply passage that is opposite to the developing bearer. A width of the supply path in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the developer bearer is in a range of 7%-10% of a circumference of an outer diameter of the developing bearer.

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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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 system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a method of producing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser exhibiting excellent conductivity/heat-dissipation, the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, a distance sensor, and an electronic apparatus. [Solving Means] A method of producing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser according to the present technology includes: creating a first substrate by sequentially stacking a dielectric DBR layer and a first dielectric to-be-bonded layer on a support substrate. A second substrate is created by sequentially stacking a semiconductor DBR layer, a current blocking layer, an active layer, a contact layer, and a second dielectric to-be-bonded layer on a semiconductor substrate. The dielectric to-be-bonded layers are bonded to each other. A bonded body of the first substrate and the second substrate is annealed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a control device including a drive circuit and a control circuit. The drive circuit includes a plurality of transistors and a current determination circuit. The plurality of transistors is electrically connected in parallel to each other between a first node and a second node. The first node is connected to a power supply circuit. The second node is connected to a DC motor. The current determination circuit determines a current flowing between the first node and the second node. The control circuit generates a control signal to control a number of transistors to be turned on among the plurality of transistors in accordance with the determined current. The drive circuit drives the DC motor using a current in response to the control signal.

Abstract: A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container.

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.

Abstract: A developer conveyance device includes a downward conveyance path in which a developer falls under gravity, a transverse conveyance path communicating with a lower end of the downward conveyance path and extending in a transverse direction intersecting with the downward conveyance path, a transport screw disposed in the transverse conveyance path, and a floating member. The transport screw is configured to rotate in a predetermined direction to transport the developer in the transverse direction. The floating member is configured to contact the transport screw rotating in the predetermined direction to float in the downward conveyance path.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearer, a developer regulator, a developer supply passage, and a stopper. The developer bearer includes a magnetic field generator and is configured to bear a developer containing toner and magnetic carriers and conveys the developer to a developing area by rotation. A stopper is configured to prevent the developer blocked by the developer regulator from moving to a surface of the developer bearer, while securing a supply path for passing the developer in the developer supply passage to the developer bearer between the stopper and an upper end of a side wall of the developer supply passage that is opposite to the developing bearer. A width of the supply path in a direction perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the developer bearer is in a range of 7% or more and less than 10% of a circumference of an outer diameter of the developing bearer.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an electrolyte solution for electrolytic capacitors and an electrolytic capacitor, in which the electrolyte solution has high sparking voltage and good heat resistance and does not readily solidify even at low temperatures, so that the electrolytic capacitor can be driven even in cold areas. The electrolyte solution for electrolytic capacitors of the present invention contains a solvent (C); and an electrolyte, the electrolyte consisting of a salt of a diprotic acid component (A) and a base (B), the diprotic acid component (A) containing two or more diprotic acids, wherein the two or more diprotic acids are characterized such that a mixture (E) of two or more acid anhydrides corresponding to a diprotic acid mixture containing the two or more diprotic acids is a liquid at 50° C., with the molar ratio of the acid anhydrides being the same as that of the diprotic acids in the diprotic acid component (A).

Abstract: A developer conveyance device includes a downward conveyance path in which a developer falls under gravity, a transverse conveyance path communicating with a lower end of the downward conveyance path and extending in a transverse direction intersecting with the downward conveyance path, a transport screw disposed in the transverse conveyance path, and a floating member. The transport screw is configured to rotate in a predetermined direction to transport the developer in the transverse direction. The floating member is configured to contact the transport screw rotating in the predetermined direction to float in the downward conveyance path.

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: According to one embodiment, there is provided a control device including a detecting circuit, a control circuit and a drive circuit. The detecting circuit detects changes in a current flowing between a node and a smoothing circuit, the node being to which a DC brush motor, a power supply circuit and the smoothing circuit can be electrically connected via respective different lines. The control circuit generates a control signal to control rotation speed of the DC brush motor according to the detected changes in the current. The drive circuit drives the DC brush motor according to the control signal.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a brush roller configured to contact an image bearer while rotating to remove toner adhering to an image bearer, a bias applying device configured to apply a bias to the brush roller, and control circuitry configured to causes the bias applying device to apply a first bias in a first period from when the brush roller is new to when a cumulative travel distance or a cumulative rotation time of the brush roller reaches a predetermined value, and to apply a second bias in a second period after the first period. The first bias sends a first current through the brush roller, and the second bias sends a second current through the brush roller. The absolute value of the first current is smaller than the absolute value of the second current.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide an electrolyte solution suitable for aluminum electrolytic capacitors which has a high spark voltage and whose conductivity does not decrease and remains sufficiently high even after heating. The electrolyte solution for aluminum electrolytic capacitors of the present invention contains a trihydric to octahydric poly alcohol alkylene oxide adduct (A), a secondary or tertiary amine, a carboxylic acid (C), and a polar solvent (D).