Abstract: An electronic device capable of controlling a power state of an external device from a first power state (ex. “Standby”) to a second power state (ex. “ON”) includes a determination unit operable to determine whether information indicating linkage is stored in a storage unit when it is detected that communication between the electronic device and the external device is enabled, and a transmitting unit operable to transmit a control signal for controlling power state of the external device. When the information indicating linkage is not stored in the storage unit, the transmitting unit stores the information indicating linkage and transmits the control signal for controlling power state of the external device to the second power state to the external device. When the information indicating linkage is stored in the storage unit, the transmitting unit refrains from transmitting the control signal to the external device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention can be operated in any operation mode selected from a plurality of operation modes including a particular operation mode and other operation modes. The image pickup apparatus includes a display unit that displays information for controlling the apparatus, and a control unit that switches the operation mode of the apparatus. When the control unit switches the operation mode between one of the other operation modes and the particular operation mode, the control unit causes the display unit to provide a display for prompting a user to give an instruction on whether to permit switching of the operation mode, before switching of the operation mode. When the control unit switches the operation mode between the other operation modes, the control unit causes the apparatus to be operated in an operation mode after switching without allowing the display unit to provide a display for prompting the user to give an instruction.

Abstract: An image data transfer apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information for at least one image file, from a storage medium storing a image file which can store plural pieces of image data, an ID adding unit that adds identification information to at least a part of all pieces of image data stored in at least one image file, based on the acquired predetermined information, a unit that receives a command for selecting at least one of all pieces of the image data each of which is added with the identification information, a transmission unit that transmits the identification information of the selected image data to the external device, and an image data transmission unit that transmits image data in response to a request from the external device.

Abstract: An image file reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit that reads an image file from a storage medium storing image files capable of storing plural pieces of image data and reproduces the read image file, a first operation unit that receives a command for selecting any one of image files stored in the storage medium, and a second operation unit that receives a command for selecting any one of image data stored in the image file selected by the command received by the first operation unit. The reproduction unit controls selection of image data to be reproduced in a different way according to the operation made on the respective operation units.

Abstract: A method of reproducing an image file from a recording medium that stores an image file of a first type and/or an image file of a second type includes reproducing the first type of image file or second type of image file, detecting whether each of a predetermined number of image files stored on the recording medium is the first type of image file or the second type of image file during the reproduction of an image file, and converting the second type of image file to the first type of image file by reading the main image data from the second type of image file, generating display-image data (image data for display use) based on the read main image data, and storing the generated display-image data in the original image file if the image file is determined to be the second type of image file based on the detection result.

Abstract: An optical fiber is rolled by a swing motion of a swing guide roller in order to impart a predetermined twist to it effectively, and its polarization dispersion is suppressed equivalently as in a perfectly circular concentric optical fiber. A method of manufacturing such an optical fiber is also provided. As a swing guide roller swings, the optical fiber is rolled on its roller surface, so that a clockwise twist and a counterclockwise twist are imparted to the optical fiber alternately. At this time, the optical fiber is fitted in a V-shaped narrow groove formed at the central portion of the roller surface of a next-stage first stationary guide roller provided just beside the swing guide roller. Rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the first stationary guide roller is suppressed, thereby helping smooth rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the swing guide roller.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image forming units for performing image formation using predetermined colors. A pattern image is formed by outputting specific pattern data to each image forming unit, density of the pattern image is measured and the gradation correction characteristics are controlled in accordance with the measure density. By performing processing in units of colors corresponding to the image forming units, color image formation having good color balance and gradation characteristics is attained over a long period of time. By controlling gradation correction characteristics in consideration of the density obtained by actually outputting the pattern image onto a recording medium, and reading the pattern image, color image formation having good density reproducibility is realized.

Abstract: An optical fiber is rolled by a swing motion of a swing guide roller in order to impart a predetermined twist to it effectively, and its polarization dispersion is suppressed equivalently as in a perfectly circular concentric optical fiber. A method of manufacturing such an optical fiber is also provided. As a swing guide roller swings, the optical fiber is rolled on its roller surface, so that a clockwise twist and a counterclockwise twist are imparted to the optical fiber alternately. At this time, the optical fiber is fitted in a V-shaped narrow groove formed at the central portion of the roller surface of a next-stage first stationary guide roller provided just beside the swing guide roller. Rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the first stationary guide roller is suppressed, thereby helping smooth rolling of the optical fiber on the roller surface of the swing guide roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, transfer material carrying structure for carrying thereon on a transfer material, a transfer charger for performing an image transfer operation for transferring electrostatically the toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transfer material carried on the transfer material carrying structure at an image transfer position, wherein the transfer charger performs the image transfer operation a plurality of times on the same transfer material, the transfer charger means being supplied with a voltage of a polarity opposite from that of the toner image, and a discharger device, having a first discharger disposed adjacent to the transfer material carrying side of the transfer material carrying structure and a second discharger opposed to the first discharger with the transfer material carrying structure therebetween, wherein the first and second dischargers are not operable during a period between an image tr

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive members, charging devices provided respectively with the photosensitive members to charge the photosensitive members, an exposing device for exposing the charged photosensitive members to image light, developing devices for developing electrostatic images on the photosensitive members with toners of different colors, a transfer device for sequentially conveying a toner image carrying medium to the transfer-positions of the photosensitive members and transferring the toner images of different colors to overlap each other on the toner image carrying medium, and a color mixing device for mixing the colors of the stacked toner images. The charge amounts of the toners for developing the electrostatic images on the photosensitive members are substantially equal.

Abstract: A color image forming method and apparatus in which toner patterns, formed by toners of different colors, on an image bearing member, can be detected by a single sensor. Near-infrared light is emitted from an LED at each formation of a single-colored pattern on the photosensitive drum and the amount of near-infrared light reflected from the drum is detected by the sensor, for the purpose of effecting gradation control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing an electrostatic image; a developer carrying member, opposed to the image bearing member, for carrying a developer containing toner; bias voltage applying device for applying a developing bias voltage to the developer carrying member, the bias voltage satisfying: ##EQU1## V1 (V): a voltage applying force to the toner toward the developer carrying member away from the image bearing member;T1 (sec): a time period of application of the voltage V1;V2 (V): a voltage applying force to the toner away from the developer carrying member toward the image bearing member;T2 (sec): a time period of application of the voltage V2;T3 (V): a time period of application of a voltage V3 which is (V1+V2)/2;d (m): distance between the image bearing member and the developer carrying member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a porous glass preform for an optical fiber and an apparatus for conducting such a process. According to the process, fine glass particles are produced by heating and reacting vaporous starting materials in a reaction vessel. The resulting fine glass particles are thereafter deposited to obtain the porous glass preform. An exhaust gas containing non-deposited fine glass particles is exhausted through an exhaust duct at a velocity above 15 m/sec. Preferably, pressure fluctuation in the reaction vessel is minimized by supplying air from outside of the reaction vessel to the exhaust duct. In accordance with the present invention, the exhaust duct is less likely to become obstructed by non-deposited fine glass particles. As a result, the preform can be produced without interruption over an extended period of time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed; transfer material carrying member for carrying thereon a transfer material; a transfer device for transferring the toner image from the image bearing member to a transfer material carried on the transfer material carrying member at a transfer position; a discharging device disposed downstream of the transfer position in a movement direction of the transfer material carrying member for acting on the transfer material on the transfer material carrying member corresponding to separation of the transfer material from the transfer material carrying member, the discharging device includes a first discharger, disposed at a transfer material carrying side of the transfer material carrying member and supplied with a voltage having a DC component of a polarity which is the same as the polarity of the toner image upon an image transfer operation.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating DCF, the fiber is drawn while rotating said optical fiber preform, wherein a rotational speed of said optical fiber preform is 10 to 1,000 rpm, a drawing speed is 50 to 1,000 m/min, and a drawing tension is 2.4 to 13 kg/mm.sup.2.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a photoconductor on which a toner image is formed, an intermediate transfer drum disposed opposite to the photoconductor for holding a sheet on its circumferential surface, and a transfer charger disposed opposite to the photoconductor through the intermediate transfer drum for transferring a toner image from the photoconductor onto a sheet held on the intermediate transfer drum. A separation charger is disposed at a downstream side of the transfer charger in the rotational direction of the intermediate transfer drum for separating the sheet from the intermediate transfer drum, the output of the separation charger being set corresponding to the number of times the toner image is transferred.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming unit to form an image onto a recording medium; a measuring unit to measure a density of the image formed on the recording medium; a controller to execute an image stabilizing control to decide image forming conditions of the image forming unit on the basis of the image density measured by the measuring unit; a heater to heat a load by supplying a current to the image forming apparatus; and a detector to detect a temperature of the load which is heated by the heater, wherein the controller controls the execution of the image stabilizing control in accordance with an output of the detector at the start of the power supply to the apparatus. When the detected temperature of the load is less than a predetermined value, the image stabilizing control is executed. When it is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the image stabilizing control is not performed.

Abstract: A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image includes a rotatable developer carrying member for carrying a developer composed of toner particles and magnetic carrier particles, wherein the developer carrying member rotates through a supply position where the developer is supplied to a surface of the developer carrying member, a regulating position where a regulating member for regulating a thickness of a layer of the developer on the surface is disposed, a developing position where the electrostatic latent image is developed, and a removing position for removing the developer remaining on the surface after a developing operation, in the order named. A stationary magnet is disposed in the developer carrying member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for controlling image forming conditions regarding the image quality comprises an image forming unit to form an image onto a recording medium such as a paper, a generator to generate pattern data to form an image of a stripe pattern of a predetermined interval by the image forming unit, a reader to read the stripe pattern image which is formed by the image forming unit in accordance with the pattern data which is generated from the generator, a memory to store the stripe pattern image read by the reader, a detector to detect the interval of the stripes of the stripe pattern stored in the memory, and a controller to control the image forming unit on the basis of the stripe interval detected by the detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium, and a measurement unit which measures the density of the image formed on the recording medium. A control unit determines an operation condition of the image forming unit on the basis of the measurement result from the measurement unit. A storage unit stores the operation condition determined by the control unit, and a display unit reads out the operation condition at a predetermined time for display. The control means controls a subsequent operation of the image forming apparatus according to the stored operation condition.