Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a correction unit configured to correct a tone of each pixel in first image data in accordance with an image height on a photosensitive member, and output second image data; a halftone processing unit configured to determine exposed regions of pixels in an image by applying halftone processing to the second image data; and a scanning unit configured to form a latent image by scanning the photosensitive member with light that changes in scanning speed in accordance with an image height based on the exposed regions of the pixels. The scanning unit is further configured to perform partial exposure with respect to the pixels based on the exposed regions of the pixels, the partial exposure exposing partial regions of the pixels to light unlike entire exposure that exposes entire regions of the pixels to light.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a microphone, a semiconductor memory, an operating section and a controller. An output signal from the microphone is written in the semiconductor memory and the written signals are read out from the semiconductor memory. The operating section performs input processing for writing a digital signal outputted by an analog/digital converter, reading out the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory and for erasing the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section controls the writing of the microphone output signal in the semiconductor memory based on an input from the operating section and the readout of the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: A film forming method includes forming a film on a substrate, in which the film includes first regions, second regions, and third regions, the first regions, the second regions, and the third regions being defined by a refractive index and a region size and being present in a mixed manner in a cross section parallel to a thickness direction, the first regions and the second regions have a refractive index at least 0.4 higher than the third regions, the second regions are formed of high-refractive-index particles having an average particle size of 10 nm or more and 100 nm or less, the first regions are formed of the high-refractive-index particles that have been aggregated, the first regions having an equivalent circular diameter of 250 nm or more, and the third regions have an equivalent circular diameter of more than 100 nm.

Abstract: An aqueous ink for inkjet use contains particles of a compound represented by general formula (I) below and a dispersant that disperses the particles: wherein R1 represents an aromatic ring; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a benzene ring; when R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, n is 1; and when R2 is a benzene ring, n is an integer of any one of 1 to 3.

Abstract: A metallic image forming method is a method for forming a metallic image with a metallic ink containing an organic coloring agent capable of exhibiting a metallic color on a recording medium provided with an undercoat layer thereon having a black color or an opposite color to the color of diffused light from the metallic ink. The method includes applying the metallic ink onto the recording medium so as to cover at least part of the undercoat layer.

Abstract: An aqueous ink for inkjetting, capable of recording an image exhibiting a natural metallic color with reduced diffused light having a color hue different from the desired metallic color by an inkjetting method, is provided. The aqueous ink for inkjetting includes organic colorant particles made of an organic colorant giving a metallic color, and a black color dye. Alternatively the aqueous ink for inkjetting includes metal particles giving a metallic color on a recording medium, and a black color dye.

Abstract: A photocurable composition of the present invention to be used for manufacturing a film with high productivity is a photocurable composition to be used for manufacturing a film having a predetermined pattern shape by curing the photocurable composition with light under a state where the photocurable composition is brought into contact with a mold having concavo-convex on a surface thereof, the photocurable composition including: a polymerizable compound; a photopolymerization initiator; a photosensitive gas generating agent for generating a gas through light stimulation; and a gas generation promotor for increasing an aggregation rate of the gas generated from the photosensitive gas generating agent at an interface between the mold and the photocurable composition, in which the gas generation promotor includes a fluorine atom-containing surfactant that is free of a polymerizable substituent.

Abstract: Provided is a resin production method in which a mold release force applied between a mold and a curable resin is reduced in a resin production method using a nano-imprint method. The resin production method includes an arrangement step of arranging a curable composition (1) on a substrate (2); a contacting step of bringing a mold (3) into contact with the curable composition (1); a curable composition curing step of curing the curable composition (1) by irradiating the curable composition (1) with a radiation or heating the curable composition (1) while keeping the curable composition (1) in contact with the mold (3); a tensile stress generation step of generating a tensile stress (6) in a direction of spacing the substrate (2) and the mold (3) away from each other to such a degree that the mold (3) and the curable composition (1) are not spaced away from each other when the curable composition (1) is cured; and a mold release step of releasing the curable composition (1) and the mold (3) from each other.

Abstract: A fiber member and a transfer belt are movable into contact with or away from each other. In an initial contact state in which an image carrying member and the transfer belt are separated and the transfer belt and the fiber member start touching, an upstream side of the fiber member in the movement direction of the transfer belt touches the transfer belt before a downstream side of the fiber member touches the belt. In a contact state in which the image carrying member and the transfer belt are in contact and the transfer belt and the transfer device are in contact, a holding surface is inclined with respect to an opposing portion of an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt in such a manner that a distance between the holding surface and the opposing portion increases from the downstream side to the upstream side in the movement direction.

Abstract: A curable composition that can be released from a mold simply within a short period of time after photo-curing by a small mold-releasing force is provided. The curable composition contains a gas-generating agent that generates a gas by pressure application. A method of forming a pattern is also provided. In the method, the mold can be released with a small force.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a belt for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a transfer material; an electric power supplying device, contacted to the belt, to which a voltage is to be applied, wherein the electric power supplying device includes an erected fiber portion formed with a plurality of electroconductive erected fibers contacted to the belt; a power source; and a contact member, connected to the electric power supplying device, for applying the voltage from the power source to the electric power supplying device. The electric power supplying device includes a welded portion formed by heat aggregation of a part of the erected fiber portion, and the contact member is connected to the welded portion.

Abstract: A position of a contact region formed between a transfer belt and a transfer member in the form of a brush is displaced toward a downstream side in a movement direction of the transfer belt with respect to the position in an initial state, whereby it is difficult to acquire excellent transferability. An image forming apparatus, in which a plurality of conductive fibers contacts an inner circumferential surface of the transfer belt, includes a support device configured to support the transfer member in such a manner that the plurality of conductive fibers is pressed between the support device and the transfer belt. A tilt amount of the conductive fiber, which is generated due to a movement of the transfer belt, is smaller than a length of a region where an image bearing member and the transfer belt contact each other in the movement direction of the transfer belt.

Abstract: A portable hand-held apparatus includes a semiconductor memory, a reproduction block, a display, a control block, a housing, and an operation block configured to supply a signal to the control block depending on user manual inputs. The operation block includes a circuit at a surface of the housing configured to detect a first user manual gesture in a first direction approximately parallel to the housing surface, a second user manual gesture in a direction opposite to the first direction and also approximately parallel to the housing surface, and a third user manual gesture in a direction that is perpendicular to the housing surface. The first and second gestures are used to select a particular one of the one or more pieces of sound data, and reproduction of a particular piece of sound data occurs in response to the third gesture.

Abstract: A fiber member and a transfer belt are movable into contact with or away from each other. In an initial contact state in which an image carrying member and the transfer belt are separated and the transfer belt and the fiber member start touching, an upstream side of the fiber member in the movement direction of the transfer belt touches the transfer belt before a downstream side of the fiber member touches the belt. In a contact state in which the image carrying member and the transfer belt are in contact and the transfer belt and the transfer device are in contact, a holding surface is inclined with respect to an opposing portion of an inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt in such a manner that a distance between the holding surface and the opposing portion increases from the downstream side to the upstream side in the movement direction.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a microphone, a semiconductor memory, an operating section and a controller. An output signal from the microphone is written in the semiconductor memory and the written signals are read out from the semiconductor memory. The operating section performs input processing for writing a digital signal outputted by an analog/digital converter, reading out the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory and for erasing the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section controls the writing of the microphone output signal in the semiconductor memory based on an input from the operating section and the readout of the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: An ink jet aqueous ink including particles of a compound represented by the following general formula (I); a dispersant for dispersing the particles; and water, where, in the general formula (I), R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl group, R3 represents an alkyl group or an aryl group, R4 represents an alkyl group, and X represents an alkyl group or a group represented by NR5R6, where R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an acyl group.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a signal generating unit that stores information on a plurality of dither matrices preset in correspondence with the density level of toner to be attached to the photosensitive member and converts input image data based on the dither matrices to generate a driving signal. The signal generating unit stores information on a first dither matrix corresponding to a first density level and a second dither matrix corresponding to a second density level higher than the first density level. The first dither matrix includes a minute exposure area in which the exposure device is caused to emit light to attain a potential at which no toner adheres to the photosensitive member, and the second dither matrix includes a normal exposure area in which the exposure device is caused to emit light to attain a potential at which toner adheres to the photosensitive member.

Abstract: A photocurable composition of the present invention to be used for manufacturing a film with high productivity is a photocurable composition to be used for manufacturing a film having a predetermined pattern shape by curing the photocurable composition with light under a state where the photocurable composition is brought into contact with a mold having concavo-convex on a surface thereof, the photocurable composition including: a polymerizable compound; a photopolymerization initiator; a photosensitive gas generating agent for generating a gas through light stimulation; and a gas generation promotor for increasing an aggregation rate of the gas generated from the photosensitive gas generating agent at an interface between the mold and the photocurable composition, in which the gas generation promotor includes a fluorine atom-containing surfactant that is free of a polymerizable substituent.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a microphone, a semiconductor memory, an operating section and a controller. An output signal from the microphone is written in the semiconductor memory and the written signals are read out from the semiconductor memory. The operating section performs input processing for writing a digital signal outputted by an analog/digital converter, reading out the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory and for erasing the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section controls the writing of the microphone output signal in the semiconductor memory based on an input from the operating section and the readout of the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an intermediary transfer belt containing an ion conductive agent, a secondary transfer member, and a charging device. With respect to the intermediary transfer belt, when a difference in number of digits (or in log value) between resistivity measured by using a metal probe and resistivity measured by using a sputtering electrode is ?M, a difference in number of digits (or in log value) between resistivity in a first environment and resistivity in a second environment higher than the first environment in temperature or humidity is ?E, a length of the secondary transfer portion with respect to the movement direction of the intermediary transfer belt is La, and a distance from the charging portion to the primary transfer portion with respect to the movement direction is Lb, the following relationship is satisfied: ?M??E?log(Lb/La).