Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias output device and an information receiving device. The transfer bias output device outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed bias composed of an AC bias superimposed on a DC bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between an image bearing member bearing a toner image and a nip forming member, to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. A controller operatively connected to the information receiving device and the transfer bias output device causes the transfer bias output device to change a target output of a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias based on information received by the information receiving device that affects transfer of the toner image and to reduce a target output of the DC bias as the target output value of the peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias increases.

Abstract: A detection apparatus configured to detect a focus state based on an output signal from an image pickup element capable of outputting an image pickup signal and a phase-difference detection signal includes, a first calculation unit configured to calculate information related to a first phase difference based on the phase-difference detection signal output from the image pickup element, a second calculation unit configured to calculate information related to a second phase difference based on the image pickup signal output from the image pickup element, and a detection unit configured to detect the focus state based on the information related to the first phase difference and the second phase difference.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image bearer configured to bear a toner image; a transfer device disposed opposing to the image bearer; and a transfer bias power source. The transfer bias power source is configured to output a transfer bias to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium. The transfer bias is a superimposed bias that cyclically alternates between a transfer-directional bias to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto the recording medium and an opposite-directional bias in an opposite direction of the transfer direction. A ratio of a time period of application of the opposite-directional bias to a total time period of one cycle of the output transfer bias is greater than 50%. The transfer bias power source changes a value of a direct current voltage in the superimposed bias according to a linear velocity of the image bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image using a toner; an intermediate transfer body onto which toner image is transferred; a secondary transfer member that comes in contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer body; a power supply that outputs a voltage for transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer body onto a recording member; and a protective agent supply unit that applies a protective agent including zinc stearate and boron nitride onto a surface of the image carrier. The voltage is alternatively switched in a transfer direction and an opposite direction. The voltage in the transfer direction enables transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer body to the recording member, and the voltage in the opposite direction has polarity opposite to polarity of the voltage in the transfer direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image capture apparatus comprising an image sensor that includes a plurality of first pixel portions and a plurality of second pixel portions whose output signals can be used to perform a correlation operation. In a case of a first photographing condition, the apparatus performs correction processing on output signals from the first pixel portions using output signals from the second pixel portions, and in a case of a second photographing condition, does not perform correction processing on output signals from the first pixel portions using output signals from the second pixel portions. The apparatus also performs image processing on a signal resulting from the correction processing or a signal that was not subjected to the correction processing, and records a signal resulting from the image processing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a rotatable image bearer, a toner image forming device, a transfer device, a transfer bias power source, and a cleaner. The toner image forming device is to form a toner image on the image bearer. The transfer device contacts a surface of the image bearer to form a transfer nip between the transfer device and the image bearer. The transfer bias power source is to output a transfer bias to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. The cleaner is disposed downstream from the transfer nip in a direction of rotation of the image bearer, to electrostatically attract and remove toner from the surface of the image bearer to a surface of the cleaner. The transfer bias includes an alternating current component.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a transfer member, and a power source. The image bearer includes a plurality of layers. The transfer member forms a transfer nip between the image bearer and the transfer member. The power source outputs a transfer bias to transfer a toner image from the image bearer onto a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The transfer bias alternates between a transfer-side bias that causes the toner image to move from the image bearer to the recording sheet, and an opposite-side bias different from the transfer-side bias. A duty ratio of a time period, during which the opposite-side bias is output, relative to one cycle of a waveform, is greater than 50%.

Abstract: A novel image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, a developing device to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image, an intermediate transfer member onto which the electrostatic latent image is transferred, a primary transfer member to apply a primary transfer bias to the intermediate transfer member to transfer the toner image thereto, a secondary transfer member supplied with a secondary transfer bias to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer member onto a recording medium, and a transfer bias power source to selectively apply to the secondary transfer member one of a secondary transfer bias consisting of a direct current (DC) voltage in a DC transfer mode and a secondary transfer bias consisting of a superimposed bias in which an alternating voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor; a selection unit that selects one of a first mode in which the electric signal output from the image sensor is not output as a visible image and a second mode in which the electric signal output from the image sensor is output as a visible image; a photometry unit that performs photometry based on an electric signal output from the image sensor; a focus detection unit that performs focus detection based on the electric signal output from the image sensor; and control unit that controls a charge accumulation period such that a minimum accumulation period is set to a first period if the first mode has been selected, and to a second period that is greater than or equal to the first period if the second mode has been selected.

Abstract: For obtained raw moving image data, an image processing apparatus decides a focal distance at which a specific subject is focused on. The respective pixels of image signals in each frame of the raw moving image data correspond to light beams having different combinations of pupil regions through which the light beams have passed, and incident directions in an imaging optical system. More specifically, the image processing apparatus generates, from the image signals of each frame of the raw moving image data, a pair of images corresponding to light beams having passed through different pupil regions, and decides, based on a defocus amount at the position of the specific subject that is calculated from the pair of images, the focal distance at which the specific subject is focused on.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt-shaped image bearer; a transfer device disposed opposing to the image bearer; an opposed device disposed opposing to the transfer device; and a transfer bias power source. The image bearer is disposed along an outer circumferential surface of the transfer device at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side of the transfer portion in a direction of conveyance of the recording medium. The transfer bias power source cyclically alternates the transfer bias applied to the transfer portion, between a transfer directional bias in a transfer direction to transfer the toner image from the image bearer onto the recording medium and a reverse directional bias in a reverse direction of the transfer direction. The transfer bias power source applies the reverse directional bias during a time period longer than 50% of one cycle of the applied transfer bias in the one cycle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a toner image; a transfer member that forms a transfer nip between the transfer member and the image carrier; and a power supply capable of outputting a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current component is superimposed onto a direct current component. The toner image on the image carrier is transferred onto a recording medium in the transfer nip by the superimposed transfer bias or a direct current bias consisting of the direct current component output by the power supply. The apparatus also includes a controller that controls the power supply so that an output target value of the direct current component when the direct current component rises up is larger than an output target value of the direct current component when the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A fixing unit for fixing a toner image includes a fixing device and a guide member. The fixing device includes a fixing roller having a heater inside thereof and a pressing roller disposed opposite the fixing roller. The pressing roller presses against the fixing roller and fixes a toner image formed on a transfer medium. The guide member guides the transfer medium to the fixing device. The guide member includes a metal base member including at least one coating layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming device, a nip forming device, a power source, a controller, and a temperature-and-humidity detector. The toner image forming device forms a toner image on the image bearer. The nip forming device contacts the image bearer to form a transfer nip. The power source outputs a transfer bias, in which an alternating current component is superimposed on a direct current component, to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium interposed in the transfer nip. The temperature-and-humidity detector detects a temperature and humidity. The controller controls the power source to output the transfer bias including the direct current component with a smaller absolute value as at least one of the detected temperature and humidity increases.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member disposed facing the image bearing member to form a transfer region therebetween, a transfer bias application device to apply to the transfer region a transfer bias including a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the transfer region, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias application device to allow, during a bias change period in a sheet absent period in which the image bearing member rotates and no recording medium passes through the transfer region, the transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer region one of the transfer bias without the AC component and the transfer bias with a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component less than that applied in image formation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, and a transfer bias power source to apply to the transfer device a superimposed transfer bias in which an alternating current (AC) component is superimposed on a direct current (DC) component in a superimposed transfer mode to transfer the toner image. The superimposed transfer bias has a waveform in which a first polarity in a direction of transferring the toner image onto the recording medium and a second polarity opposite the first polarity switch alternately. The superimposed transfer bias is output such that a standard value of each of the DC component and the AC component is multiplied by a respective correction ratio, and the correction ratio of the DC component is different from that of the AC component.

Abstract: The accuracy of focus detection of a phase-difference detection type using a signal obtained from a focus detection pixel is improved. A defocus amount of an imaging optical system is computed based on an image signal obtained from an image sensor. Meanwhile, an evaluation value that is based on contrast information of the image signal is computed, and it is determined based on the evaluation value whether or not to consider a defocus amount computed in the past. If it is determined to consider the defocus amount computed in the past, a final defocus amount is computed based on a plurality of defocus amounts including the defocus amount computed in the past.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transfer bias output device and an information receiving device. The transfer bias output device outputs a transfer bias including a superimposed bias composed of an AC bias superimposed on a DC bias to form a transfer electric field in a transfer nip between an image bearing member bearing a toner image and a nip forming member, to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium in the transfer nip. A controller operatively connected to the information receiving device and the transfer bias output device causes the transfer bias output device to change a target output of a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias based on information received by the information receiving device that affects transfer of the toner image and to reduce a target output of the DC bias as the target output value of the peak-to-peak voltage of the AC bias increases.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element that includes imaging pixels and focus detection pixels and that performs a photoelectric conversion of an object image, a readout unit that reads a pair of image signals from the focus detection pixels with a predetermined period, a storage unit that stores the pair of image signals read by the readout unit and optical information of the pair of image signals, an addition unit that adds a plurality of signals of time-series continuous frames of the pair of image signals, and a conversion coefficient determination unit that determines a conversion coefficient that converts an image shift amount of a pair of image signals of an addition frame obtained by the addition unit into a defocus amount, and the conversion coefficient determination unit determines the conversion coefficient of the addition frame based on the time-series continuous optical information.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a transfer member and a bias applicator. The transfer member contacts a surface, on which a toner image is borne, of an image bearing body, to form a transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage and an AC voltage as transfer bias to transfer the toner image on the image bearing body to a recording sheet in the transfer nip. The bias applicator applies a DC voltage having a same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias and an AC voltage having an amplitude smaller than the AC voltage of the transfer bias or applies the DC voltage having the same polarity as the DC voltage of the transfer bias without applying an AC voltage, when an inter-sheet area that exists on the image bearing body passes through the transfer nip during a continuous image formation period.