Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a lateral end heater to heat a lateral end span of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A thermal conduction aid contacts the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad contacts the thermal conduction aid. A lateral end temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing rotator in a lateral end detection span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The thermal conduction aid contacts the nip formation pad in a first span including the lateral end detection span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator with a first contact area. The thermal conduction aid contacts the nip formation pad in a second span disposed outboard from the first span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator with a second contact area smaller than the first contact area.

Abstract: A timing signal generation device includes a GPS receiver, an atomic oscillator, a phase comparator, a loop filter, and a divider, a temperature sensor, a DDS, and a DSP. The GPS receiver outputs a reference timing signal. The atomic oscillator outputs a clock signal in accordance with an input voltage value. The phase comparator, the loop filter, and the divider adjust the voltage value in accordance with a synchronization status between the reference timing signal and the clock signal. The temperature sensor outputs a signal depending on the temperature of the atomic oscillator. The DDS converts the frequency of the clock signal and outputs a signal obtained by converting the frequency. The DSP controls the DDS based on an output of the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat generator being disposed inside a loop formed by a rotator and including a heat generating portion to radiate radiant heat. A reflector is disposed inside the loop formed by the rotator and includes a reflection face to reflect the radiant heat radiated from the heat generator toward the rotator. A support supports the reflector. A holder holds each lateral end of the support in a longitudinal direction of the support, which is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the rotator. A fastener attaches the reflector to the support at an attachment position disposed at each lateral end of the reflector in a longitudinal direction of the reflector. The attachment position is disposed outboard from a lateral edge of the heat generating portion of the heat generator and disposed inboard from the holder in the longitudinal direction of the reflector.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a lateral end heater, disposed opposite a lateral end of an inner circumferential surface of a fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof, to heat the fixing rotator and a thermal conduction aid contacting the fixing rotator and the lateral end heater to conduct heat. The lateral end heater includes a power supply portion disposed outboard from a lateral end of the thermal conduction aid in a longitudinal direction thereof and disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The power supply portion includes an electrode. A cover covers the power supply portion and includes a cover face disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A height adjuster adjusts a height of the cover face of the cover and causes the cover face to define an identical plane with a fixing rotator side face of the thermal conduction aid.

Abstract: An ester wax is provided. The ester wax includes a long-chain aliphatic ester represented by the following formula: R—COO—R? wherein R represents an alky group having 13 to 23 carbon atoms and R? represents an alkyl group having 18 to 22 carbon atoms. The ester wax further includes an aliphatic alcohol having 18 to 22 carbon atoms in an amount less than 3% by mass based on a total mass of the ester wax.

Abstract: A timing signal generation device includes a GPS receiver that performs a positioning calculation based on a satellite signal; and a digital signal processor that generates position information regarding a reception point based on a value present within a range of A±?/4 wherein A is a most frequent value or a median value of a plurality of positioning calculation results of the GPS receiver and ? is a standard deviation of the plurality of positioning calculation results. A timing signal is generated based on the satellite signal from at least one position information satellite and the position information regarding the reception point.

Abstract: A timing signal generation device includes a PLL circuit that synchronizes a first clock signal of an atomic oscillator with a reference timing signal of a GPS receiver, a PLL circuit that synchronizes a second clock signal of an oven-controlled crystal oscillator with the first clock signal, a first count reset unit that enables resetting of a count value of a divider in the PLL circuit when an operation of the PLL circuit is restarted, and a second count reset unit that enables resetting of a count value of a divider in the PLL circuit when the operation of the PLL circuit is restarted.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer which is placed on the semiconductor substrate and is provided with a cavity section, and a semiconductor layer which is placed on the insulating layer and includes a diaphragm that is placed so as to cover the cavity section. The diaphragm includes a through-hole which communicates with the cavity section.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exhaust duct to guide air inside the image forming apparatus to an outside of the image forming apparatus. A positive ion generator emits a positive ion into the exhaust duct. A negative ion generator emits a negative ion into the exhaust duct. The negative ion generator is shifted from the positive ion generator in one of an air flow direction of the air moving inside the exhaust duct and a direction perpendicular to the air flow direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt that is rotatable and a pressure rotator that is pressed against the fixing belt to form a fixing nip therebetween. A polishing roller separably contacts the fixing belt and slides over an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt while the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt. At least one support supports and stretches the fixing belt. A polishing aid, which is disposed opposite the polishing roller via the fixing belt, supports and stretches the fixing belt. The polishing roller is disposed opposite the polishing aid via the fixing belt to form a polishing nip between the polishing roller and the fixing belt while the polishing roller is pressed against the fixing belt. The polishing roller changes a rotation locus of the fixing belt along at least a part of a circumferential face of the polishing roller.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing rotator and a lateral end heater to heat a lateral end span of the fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof. A thermal conduction aid contacts the fixing rotator. A nip formation pad contacts the thermal conduction aid. A lateral end temperature detector detects a temperature of the fixing rotator in a lateral end detection span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator. The thermal conduction aid contacts the nip formation pad in a first span including the lateral end detection span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator with a first contact area. The thermal conduction aid contacts the nip formation pad in a second span disposed outboard from the first span in the axial direction of the fixing rotator with a second contact area smaller than the first contact area.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a pressure rotator disposed opposite the belt, and a nip formation unit that forms a fixing nip between the belt and the pressure rotator. The nip formation unit includes a guide face disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a rotation direction of the belt and contoured to separate from the pressure rotator in a direction opposite the rotation direction of the belt. The guide face is adhered with a lubricant moved from an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The belt rotates in the rotation direction when an outer circumferential surface of the belt has a temperature lower than a fixing temperature at which the belt fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The belt rotating in the rotation direction brings the lubricant adhered to the guide face into contact with the belt.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt being endless and rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation. The fixing belt includes an inner circumferential face applied with a fluorine compound. A nip formation pad is not rotatable. The inner circumferential face of the fixing belt slides over the nip formation pad. A pressure rotator presses against the nip formation pad via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the fixing belt and the pressure rotator. At least one heater heats the fixing belt. The heater includes a glass tube filled with an inert gas containing, as a main ingredient, a substance having a first molecular weight greater than a second molecular weight of argon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a resistive element includes: preparing a substrate including an n-type silicon layer; doping the silicon layer with an impurity to thereby form a resistive region; heat-treating the resistive region by any of rapid thermal annealing, flash lamp annealing, and excimer laser annealing; and epitaxially growing silicon on the resistive region to thereby form a covering layer.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a lateral end heater, disposed opposite a lateral end of an inner circumferential surface of a fixing rotator in an axial direction thereof, to heat the fixing rotator and a thermal conduction aid contacting the fixing rotator and the lateral end heater to conduct heat. The lateral end heater includes a power supply portion disposed outboard from a lateral end of the thermal conduction aid in a longitudinal direction thereof and disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. The power supply portion includes an electrode. A cover covers the power supply portion and includes a cover face disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotator. A height adjuster adjusts a height of the cover face of the cover and causes the cover face to define an identical plane with a fixing rotator side face of the thermal conduction aid.

Abstract: An aerobic exercise assistance apparatus 1 includes an input/output unit 131 that, under control by a control unit, gives a user a question and accepts an input of an answer from the user to the question while the user performs the aerobic exercise. The control unit controls the load application driving unit 110, 120 to change the load applied by the load application driving unit 110, 120, based on a correct answer ratio of the user for the question and timing of the answer to the question by the user.

Abstract: In an inhibiter switch, a detent plate may be rotated on one side around a rotational shaft to be assembled in a pole board, and a stopper may be provided in the pole board to define a rotation range of the detent plate on the one side. An interference portion may be provided on a movement track of a movable contact piece when the detent plate rotates around the rotational shaft, wherein the interference portion may interfere with the movable contact piece to become resistance to rotation of the detent plate to the other side around the rotational shaft.

Abstract: A magnetic type switch may include a magnet having a magnetic pole face arranged to face a magnetic body provided in an object. A change in magnetic field due to a change in distance between the magnetic body and the magnet by an operation of the object may be detected to output a signal for indicating at lease one of a presence and an absence of the operation of the object. The switch may also include a casing in which the magnet may be disposed, where the casing may have a facing part between the magnet pole face of the magnet and the magnetic body. The switch may further include a protector member formed of a non-magnetic body having a predetermined thickness in a direction vertical to the magnetic pole face, where the protector member maybe attached to the casing to cover at least the facing part.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a pressure rotator disposed opposite the belt, and a nip formation unit that forms a fixing nip between the belt and the pressure rotator. The nip formation unit includes a guide face disposed upstream from the fixing nip in a rotation direction of the belt and contoured to separate from the pressure rotator in a direction opposite the rotation direction of the belt. The guide face is adhered with a lubricant moved from an inner circumferential surface of the belt. The belt rotates in the rotation direction when an outer circumferential surface of the belt has a temperature lower than a fixing temperature at which the belt fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The belt rotating in the rotation direction brings the lubricant adhered to the guide face into contact with the belt.