Abstract: A device registration apparatus includes: a transmitting unit that transmits, to an electric device, a state shift command for shifting the electric device to a specific state; a receiving unit that receives, from a power feed tap, tap identification information, electric-power information that indicates an electric power measured at each outlet, and outlet identification information for identifying an outlet that corresponds to each piece of the electric-power information; a determining unit that, when, in the electric-power information that is received during a predetermined time period after the state shift command is transmitted, electric power information of only one outlet indicates a change in an electric power when the electric device shifts to the specific state, determines that the electric device is connected to the outlet; and an associating unit that stores device identification information in association with outlet identification information on the outlet and the tap identification information.

Abstract: An arbitration device comprises a determining unit that determines priority of each of a plurality of electrical devices according to at least either a position or an action status of a person present in a target area for control; and a calculating unit that calculates electrical power to be allotted to each of the electrical devices in such a way that a total of electrical power allotted to a plurality of the electrical devices is within a limit value and the electrical devices having the priority at high levels are allotted with electrical power on a priority basis.

Abstract: A device registration apparatus includes: a transmitting unit that transmits, to an electric device, a state shift command for shifting the electric device to a specific state; a receiving unit that receives, from a power feed tap, tap identification information, electric-power information that indicates an electric power measured at each outlet, and outlet identification information for identifying an outlet that corresponds to each piece of the electric-power information; a determining unit that, when, in the electric-power information that is received during a predetermined time period after the state shift command is transmitted, electric power information of only one outlet indicates a change in an electric power when the electric device shifts to the specific state, determines that the electric device is connected to the outlet; and an associating unit that stores device identification information in association with outlet identification information on the outlet and the tap identification information.

Abstract: A type determination apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to chronologically acquire power consumption consumed by an electrical device; and a determination unit configured to determine that a type of the electrical device is a type to be determined in accordance with a reference pattern representing a predetermined pattern of a power fluctuation when a fluctuation pattern of the power consumption acquired for a duration equal to or more than a reference period of time is matched with the reference pattern.

Abstract: A disclosed laminated structure includes a wettability-variable layer containing a wettability-variable material whose surface energy changes when energy is applied thereto and including at least a high-surface-energy area having high surface energy and a low-surface-energy area having low surface energy; and a conductive layer formed on the high-surface-energy area. The high-surface-energy area includes a first area and a second area extending from the first area and having a width smaller than that of the first area.

Abstract: An arbitration device comprises a determining unit that determines priority of each of a plurality of electrical devices according to at least either a position or an action status of a person present in a target area for control; and a calculating unit that calculates electrical power to be allotted to each of the electrical devices in such a way that a total of electrical power allotted to a plurality of the electrical devices is within a limit value and the electrical devices having the priority at high levels are allotted with electrical power on a priority basis.

Abstract: An environment control system comprising: a positioning system; and an electric facility control system, the positioning system comprising: at least one sensor configured to detect the location and the motion of the human being; and an operation unit configured to compute at least a value of a motion activity of the human being, the electric facility control system comprising: a determining unit configured to determine whether the human being is in a moving state or a resting state by comparing the value of the motion activity with a predetermined threshold value; and a controller configured to control the electric facility to change the environment of the given space, wherein the operation unit computes the value of the motion activity based on the operation result.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device includes a fixer application unit configured to apply a fixer containing a softener, capable of softening resin by dissolving or swelling at least a part of the resin, and water to resin particles formed on a recording medium such that the resin particles are fixed on the recording medium. The fixing unit may further include an anti-tack agent application unit configured to apply a liquid anti-tack agent immiscible with the softener to surfaces of the resin particles that are mixed with the softener by the application of the fixer containing the softener.

Abstract: A type determination apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to chronologically acquire power consumption consumed by an electrical device; and a determination unit configured to determine that a type of the electrical device is a type to be determined in accordance with a reference pattern representing a predetermined pattern of a power fluctuation when a fluctuation pattern of the power consumption acquired for a duration equal to or more than a reference period of time is matched with the reference pattern.

Abstract: To provide a fixing solution for fixing fine resin particles to a recording medium, the fixing solution including: a diluent which contains water; a foaming agent which allows the fixing solution to be in the form of foam; and plasticizers which soften or swell at least part of the fine resin particles, wherein the plasticizers contain a liquid plasticizer which is liquid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent, and a solid plasticizer which is solid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated structure includes a step of supplying a droplet of a functional fluid selectively to at least a first region of a high surface energy area formed in a wettability variable layer of the laminated structure. In the step, the droplet is supplied by inkjet printing, and a center position of the droplet is determined in such a manner as to satisfy both Equations (1) and (2) below: X<±(L+2S?D?2?)/2 (here, L+2S>D+2?) ??(1) X<±(L+D?2?)/2 (here, L+2D>D+2?) ??(2), where X is a distance between a center position of the first region and the center position of the droplet, D is a diameter of the droplet when travelling, ? is variation in a landing position of the droplet, L is width of the first region, and S is a gap between the first and the second regions.

Abstract: To provide a fixing solution for fixing fine resin particles to a recording medium, the fixing solution including: a diluent which contains water; a foaming agent which allows the fixing solution to be in the form of foam; and a solid plasticizer which is solid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent, and which softens or swells at least part of the fine resin particles while dissolved in the diluent.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device includes a fixing material application unit applying a fixing material to a fixing material carrier, a transfer unit transferring the fixing material onto a recording medium, a cleaning blade cleaning the fixing material carrier after the fixing material is transferred onto the recording medium, and a lubricant agent application unit disposed on a downstream side of the cleaning blade on the fixing material carrier and applying a lubricant agent to the fixing material carrier. Further, before a fixing operation is started, the lubricant agent application unit applies the lubricant agent to the fixing material carrier, and the fixing material carrier moves in a direction opposite to a direction when the fixing operation is performed and to a position where the applied lubricant agent is adhered to the cleaning blade.

Abstract: A laminate structure is disclosed that has a region having high surface free energy and a region having low surface free energy that are well separated, has high adhesiveness between an underlying layer and a conductive layer, and can be formed easily with low cost. The laminate structure includes a wettability-variable layer including a first surface free energy region of a first film thickness and a second surface free energy region of a second film thickness, and a conductive layer formed on the second surface free energy region of the wettability-variable layer. The second film thickness is less than the first film thickness and the surface free energy of the second surface free energy region is made higher than the surface free energy of the first surface free energy region by applying a predetermined amount of energy on the second surface free energy region.

Abstract: An organic transistor includes a substrate; a gate electrode and a gate insulating film sequentially formed on the substrate in the stated order; and a source electrode, a drain electrode, and an organic semiconductor layer formed on at least the gate insulating film. Ultraviolet light is radiated to the substrate from a side without the gate electrode, transmitted through the substrate and the gate insulating film, reflected at the gate electrode, and absorbed at the organic semiconductor layer. Conductivity of the organic semiconductor layer that has absorbed the ultraviolet light is lower than that of the organic semiconductor layer that has not absorbed the ultraviolet light.

Abstract: To provide a fixing solution for fixing fine resin particles to a recording medium, the fixing solution including: a diluent which contains water; a foaming agent which allows the fixing solution to be in the form of foam; and plasticizers which soften or swell at least part of the fine resin particles, wherein the plasticizers contain a liquid plasticizer which is liquid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent, and a solid plasticizer which is solid at normal temperature and soluble in the diluent.

Abstract: A disclosed laminated structure includes a wettability variable layer containing a wettability variable material whose surface energy changes when energy is applied thereto and including at least a high surface energy area having high surface energy and a low surface energy area having low surface energy; and a conductive layer disposed on the high surface energy area. The conductive layer includes a first high surface energy area, a second high surface energy area smaller in width than the first high surface energy area, and a third high surface energy area smaller in width than the second high surface energy area. The first high surface energy area and the second high surface energy area are connected by the third high surface energy area.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an organic transistor active substrate is disclosed. The organic transistor active substrate includes an organic transistor in which a first electrode is formed on a substrate, a first insulating film is formed on the first electrode, a pair of second electrodes is formed on the first insulating film, and an active layer made of an organic semiconductor material is formed on the pair of second electrodes. The organic transistor is laminated with a second insulating film, and the second insulating film is laminated with a third electrode which is electrically coupled to one of the second electrodes via a through-hole provided through the second insulating film. The first electrode is formed by inkjet ejection; the first insulating film is formed by coating; the pair of second electrodes is formed by inkjet ejection; the active layer is formed by inkjet ejection; the second insulating film is formed by screen printing; and the third electrode is formed by screen printing.

Abstract: A disclosed fixing device includes a fixing material application unit applying a fixing material to a fixing material carrier, a transfer unit transferring the fixing material onto a recording medium, a cleaning blade cleaning the fixing material carrier after the fixing material is transferred onto the recording medium, and a lubricant agent application unit disposed on a downstream side of the cleaning blade on the fixing material carrier and applying a lubricant agent to the fixing material carrier. Further, before a fixing operation is started, the lubricant agent application unit applies the lubricant agent to the fixing material carrier, and the fixing material carrier moves in a direction opposite to a direction when the fixing operation is performed and to a position where the applied lubricant agent is adhered to the cleaning blade.

Abstract: A disclosed laminated structure includes a wettability-variable layer containing a wettability-variable material whose surface energy changes when energy is applied thereto and including at least a high-surface-energy area having high surface energy and a low-surface-energy area having low surface energy; and a conductive layer formed on the high-surface-energy area. The high-surface-energy area includes a first area and a second area extending from the first area and having a width smaller than that of the first area.