Abstract: A high-ratio zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the lens groups move while increasing the distance between the first and second lens groups, and decreasing the distance between the second and third lens groups. The first lens group includes a negative lens element having a concave surface on the image side, a positive lens element having a convex surface on the object side, and a positive lens element having a convex surface on the object side, in that order from the object side. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 1.7<f1/f4<2.02 ??(1), and 1.82<(f1×f4)/(f3)2<2.3 ??(2), wherein f1, f3 and f4 designate the focal length of the first, third and fourth lens groups, respectively.

Abstract: A high-ratio zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, in that order from the object. Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, the first through fourth lens groups moving along the optical axis thereof while increasing the distance between the first and second lens groups, and decreasing the distance between the second and third lens groups. The following conditions are satisfied: 0.9<f3/f4<1.3??(1), and ?3.85<f123t/f4<?3.04??(2), wherein f3 designates the focal length of the third lens group, f4 designates the focal length of the fourth lens group, and f123t designates the combined focal length of the first, second and third lens groups when an object at infinity is in an in-focus state at the long focal length extremity.

Abstract: A system and process for capturing and rendering ink is described. An ink canvas object may contain none, one, or more objects or elements and may specify the z-order of the objects or elements. The ink canvas object may host a variety of objects or elements and, therefore, provide ink functionality to the objects or elements, even though the objects or elements themselves may not have ink functionality. The ink canvas object is attached to an ink editor that has an associated modifiable ink editor behavior, whereby ink specific behaviors are collected in the ink edit behavior.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a picture-taking lens unit including a picture-taking optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light and an optical finder unit including a finder optical system having a bending optical system which optically bends incident light. A pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the optical finder unit are arranged adjacent to a pre-bending optical system and a post-bending optical system in the bending optical system of the picture-taking lens unit, respectively. The body of the camera is therefore decreased in size.

Abstract: A toner conveying device includes a toner hopper for containing unused toner, a waste-toner hopper for containing waste toner, and waste-toner conveying screws that convey waste toner in the waste-toner hopper. The waste-toner hopper is separated from the toner hopper by a flexible partition made of elastic material. The flexible partition is located near the conveying member, and includes a rigid body.

Abstract: In order to provide a phosphor for a low-voltage electron beam and a vacuum fluorescent display apparatus in which the phosphor is used, a deposition layer is formed on a surface of a main body of a phosphor shown by the following chemical formula (1), the deposition layer being a plurality of oxide layers sequentially deposited on the surface of the phosphor main body. The phosphor for a low-voltage electron beam contains no cadmium, but has exceptional high-temperature exposure characteristics, as well as prolonged service life and higher brightness. Ca1-xSrxTiO3:Pr,M ??(1) where M is at least one element selected from Al, Ga, In, Mg, Zn, Li, Na, K, Gd, Y, La, Cs, and Rb; and 0?x?1.

Abstract: [Object] A compound which is useful as an EP1 receptor antagonist is provided. [Means for Solution] The present inventors investigated EP1 receptor antagonists, and confirmed that a compound having a sulfonamide structure, in which the nitrogen atom of the sulfonamide structure is substituted with 2-fluoropropyl group, 3-fluoro-2-methylpropyl group or the like, has a potent EP1 receptor antagonistic action, thereby completing the present invention. The sulfonamide compound of the present invention has a potent EP1 receptor antagonistic action and can be used as an agent for preventing and/or treating a lower urinary tract symptom or the like.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass substrate for an information recording medium, wherein the abrasive and foreign matters adhered on the glass substrate after the polishing step are surely removed without making the cleaning step complicated. The glass substrate is cleaned by scrubbing with water to which 0.5-5.0 mass % of hydrogen peroxide has been added as a cleaning solution.

Abstract: A cooling structure for a stator configured with a cooling medium distributing member formed with a plurality of discharge openings, and a distributing path, wherein the distributing path has a plurality of chambers separated by a partition wall, and an inter-chamber communication passage that is formed in the partition wall and communicates between the adjacent chambers. The cooling medium distributing member includes at least one cooling medium distributing chamber that divides the distributing path to a plurality of inter-chamber communication passages, and also includes a plurality of discharge chambers. The plurality of inter-chamber communication passages formed in the partition wall are formed with a ratio of an opening width between the different inter-chamber communication passages set according to a ratio of a sum of opening cross-sectional areas of all of the cooling medium discharge openings which are located downstream of each of the inter-chamber communication passages.

Abstract: A developing device that supplies developer to an image carrier. In a developing device having a developer carrier that is driven in rotation by drive force applied to a gear provided on the shaft section thereof, the developer carrier being pressed in the direction of the image carrier, the effect of the gear drive force on the pressing force of the developer carrier onto the image carrier can be eliminated. The bearing that supports the shaft section is made slidable and the sliding direction of the bearing with respect to the direction of the drive force is set at about 90°.

Abstract: A developing device configured such that the developing device or the like can be easily inserted and removed without increasing the size of the apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that uses this developing device as well as a process cartridge. The developing device is provided with a first rib formed projecting from a first main wall surface, which is the side surface with the maximum area in the chassis of the developing device, and a second rib formed projecting from a second main wall surface, which is the side surface in opposition to the first main wall surface, the first rib being disposed in a position higher than the second rib in the height direction.

Abstract: A process for rendering highlighter ink strokes and non-highlighter ink strokes in a non-rastering environment is described. Strokes may be grouped under a node having a predefined opacity. The strokes inherit the opacity from the node. Additionally, visuals containing highlighter strokes of the same color are grouped into collections of visuals (one collection per each highlighter color), and change the opacity of the collection (parent) visual to semi-transparent (or any other transparency value defined for the highlighter effect).

Abstract: A waste-toner housing device that is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus for housing waste toner includes a waste-toner container and a first conveying member and a second conveying member that convey the wasted toner. The first conveying member and the second conveying member are arranged inside the waste-toner container in such a manner that the second conveying member is located at an elevated level with respect to the first conveying member.

Abstract: A powder conveyance device capable of removing toner (powder) stuck to a conveyor belt easily and reliably comprises a powder conveyor belt having a plurality of concavo-convex portions formed continuously on a conveyance surface thereof, driving means for driving the conveyor belt, and a scraping member that contacts the conveyor belt. At least one of the scraping member and a convex portion of the conveyor belt deforms elastically such that a tip end of the scraping member enters a concave portion and scrapes away the powder stuck to the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning blade, a receiving member, an inlet seal, an adhering member, and an end seal. The cleaning blade is brought into contact with a photosensitive drum to remove residual toner therefrom. The receiving member receives the residual toner. The inlet seal guides the residual toner to the receiving member. The adhering member adheres the inlet seal to the receiving member. The end seal is arranged along the end portions of the cleaning blade and the inlet seal. The inlet seal covers the end seal and extends out from the end seal in its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A silicon wafer for an IGBT is produced by forming an ingot having an interstitial oxygen concentration [Oi] of not more than 7.0×1017 atoms/cm3 by the Czochralski method; doping phosphorus in the ingot by neutron beam irradiation to the ingot; slicing a wafer from the ingot; performing annealing of the wafer in an oxidizing atmosphere containing at least oxygen at a temperature satisfying a predetermined formula; and forming a polysilicon layer or a strained layer on one side of the wafer.

Abstract: A stator includes a substantially cylindrical stator core, which has a fixing ridge provided with a fastening portion for fixing, and which is positioned so that an axial center of the stator extends substantially horizontally; and sealing members, which are respectively attached to both axial ends of the stator core so as to be positioned on a side of the uppermost part of the main body outer peripheral surface with respect to the target ridge, and which respectively form sealing walls that have a height equal to or higher than a horizontal plane extending in the uppermost part of the ridge outer peripheral surface, wherein a recess surrounded by the ridge outer peripheral surface, the main body outer peripheral surface, and the sealing walls serves as a refrigerant reservoir recess for storing a refrigerant.

Abstract: An endless metal belt including a ring formed by laminating endless metal plates; and multiple elements continuously attached to the ring. Each of the elements has a body, a head connected to the body by a pillar, and slots formed between the body and the head on left and right sides of the pillar, respectively, for receiving the ring. The elements satisfy the equations (h/t)<1 and (S/h)>40, where h is a width of the slots, t is a plate thickness of the elements, and S is an area of the head.

Abstract: To provide a compound which has an excellent activity to modulate the functions of CCR4 or TARC and/or MDC and can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of various inflammatory diseases, allergic diseases, autoimmune diseases and the like. An acylaminopiperidine compound represented by the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. [Symbols in the formula represent the following meanings; A: a single bond or C1-C6 alkylene, R1: phenyl which may be substituted, etc., R2: —H or C1-C6 alkyl, R3: —H, C1-C6 alkyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl, R4: pyrrolidin-2-yl which may be substituted, etc., and D: benzene ring or pyrazole ring].

Abstract: An annular metal cord includes an annular core portion and an outer layer portion. The annular core portion is formed by connecting together both ends of a first strand material which is made up of six twisted first metal filaments. The outer layer portion is formed by winding spirally a second strand material which is made up of six twisted second metal filaments around the annular core portion. The second strand material is wound at a predetermined winding angle relative to a center axis of the annular core portion, and a winding initiating end portion and a winding terminating end portion are connected together. As a result, the breaking strength of the annular metal cord can be made large, and the production thereof can be facilitated.