Abstract: Provided is a toner that shows both developability and electrostatic offset resistance. The toner includes a charge controlling agent that is represented by the following formula (1), and that has peaks at 15.000°±0.150° and 20.100°±0.150° in CuK? X-ray diffraction spectrum obtained in 2? range of 10° or more to 40° or less where ? represents Bragg angle, one of the peaks being a peak having a maximum intensity and the other being a peak having a second maximum intensity.

Abstract: A magnetic toner having a toner particle containing a binder resin and a magnetic member, a first inorganic fine particle and an organic-inorganic composite particle on the surface of the toner particle, wherein the organic-inorganic composite particle i) has a structure in which a second inorganic fine particle is embedded in a resin particle, and ii) is contained in an amount of 0.5 mass % or more and 3.0 mass % or less based on the mass of the toner; the first inorganic fine particle contains an inorganic oxide fine particle selected from the group consisting of a silica fine particle, a titanium oxide fine particle and an alumina fine particle; has a number average particle diameter (D1) of 5 nm or more and 25 nm or less, and contains the silica fine particle in an amount of 85 mass % or more based on the inorganic oxide fine particle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toner that exhibits an excellent low-temperature fixability and an excellent ejected paper adhesiveness during high-speed printing, without affecting the long-term storage stability, in which the toner has a toner particle that contains a resin component, wherein the toner has, in a DSC curve measured with a differential scanning calorimeter, a glass transition temperature of at least 50° C. and not more than 65° C. and a cold crystallization peak during cooling of at least 40° C. and not more than 70° C., and has an endothermic peak in a DSC curve measured with a differential scanning calorimeter for the resin component of at least 70° C. and not more than 95° C.

Abstract: The toner includes a resin component containing a crystalline polyester resin and a polyester-type resin that has a long-chain monomer bonded by condensation at a terminal, the toner having, in a total heat flow measured by a temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimeter, an endothermic peak resulting from the crystalline polyester resin in a specific temperature range, and the percentage of the endothermic quantity of the endothermic peak in a reversing heat flow with respect to the endothermic quantity of the endothermic peak in the total heat flow being at least 20.0%.

Abstract: A toner excellent in end-portion hot offset properties is provided. A toner including toner particles and an external additive, wherein the toner particles contain a binder resin, and organic-inorganic composite fine particles dispersed in the binder resin, and the organic-inorganic composite fine particles (1) have a number-average particle diameter of 70 nm or more and 500 nm or less, (2) have a structure in which inorganic fine particles are embedded in a resin particle, convexes derived from the inorganic fine particles being present on surfaces of the organic-inorganic composite fine particles, (3) have a shape factor SF-2 of 103 or more and 120 or less, and (4) contain a resin component in which a proportion of THF-insoluble matter based on a mass of the resin component is 95% by mass or more.

Abstract: A toner is provided including large particle-diameter external additives with sweep to the concaves of a toner particle suppressed, so that the large particle-diameter external additives function as spacer particles for a long period. The toner includes toner particles which contain a binder resin and magnetic material, and organic-inorganic composite fine particles having a structure including inorganic fine particles embedded in a vinyl resin particle. The presence state of the magnetic material on the toner particle surface satisfies specific conditions and the presence state of the organic-inorganic composite fine particles on the toner surface satisfies specific conditions.

Abstract: To provide a steel product excelling in both corrosion resistance and adhesion. A steel product having a nitride layer and a nitrogen diffused layer formed on the surface of a steel base material is provided. The nitride layer includes a first compound layer formed on a nitrogen diffused layer side and a second compound layer formed on a surface side of the first compound layer. The first compound layer has an ?-structure mainly made of Fe3N, and the second compound layer has a higher nitrogen concentration than the first compound layer and has a concavoconvex formed on the surface thereof. Thus, the nitride layer having excellent adhesion, an extremely small carbon containing amount, and high corrosion resistance can be formed.

Abstract: In a data reading apparatus performing contactless data communications with IC tags, a multi channel setting section sets a plurality of frequencies to be used for data communication with an IC tag in advance; a multi channel interference detecting section detects radio interference from other data reader in each of the set plurality of frequencies, prior to occurrence of a data communication request with an IC tag; a carrier sense lapse time holding section holds a period of no interference based on an interference detection result from the multi channel interference detecting section; a time comparing section determines whether the carrier sense lapse time held by the carrier sense lapse time holding section is on or above a predetermined carrier sense time upon occurrence of the data communication request with the IC tag, and permits the data communication with the IC tag when the carrier sense lapse time is on or above the carrier sense time; a transmitting section transmits data to the IC tag; and hence

Abstract: A multiphase DC/DC converter according to the present invention includes: a plurality of DC/DC converters whose outputs are connected in common to supply electric power to a load; a load state detection portion which detects a state of the load connected to the plurality of DC/DC converters and outputs a detection result; and a control circuit which drives each of the plurality of DC/DC converters based on outputs from the plurality of DC/DC converters, and based on an output from the load state detection portion, drives the plurality of DC/DC converters with output phases of the plurality of DC/DC converters deviated from each other or with the output phases of the plurality of DC/DC converters aligned with each other.

Abstract: A lens driving device suppresses inward deformation of posts when the winding of a conductive wire generates a winding pressure. A lens driving device 1 includes a holder 10 that holds a lens unit 13. The holder 10 is movable in an optical axis direction of the lens unit 13. A magnet 20 surrounds the lens unit 13 in a radial direction of the lens unit 13. The magnet 20 is fixed to the holder 10. A coil 60 surrounds the holder 10 in the radial direction. The coil 60 faces the magnet in the radial direction. Posts surround the holder in the radial direction. The posts to which the coil is wound extends in the optical axis direction. A beam connects ends of the posts facing the same direction in the optical axis direction with each other. The beam is connected to each end of the posts.

Abstract: There is provided a surface treatment method for improving high temperature resistance oxidizability of a Ti—Al alloy in a manner suitable for mass production and the Ti—Al alloy. A Ti—Al alloy base material containing 15 at % or more to 55 at % or less of Al is heated and held in a gas atmosphere containing a fluorine source gas to form a fluorine inspissation layer with a thickness of 0.1 ?m or more to 10 ?m or less on the surface of the Ti—Al alloy base material, and a maximum concentration of F in the fluorine inspissation layer is made to be 2 at % or more to 35 at % or less. Thereby, when exposed to a high temperature oxidizing atmosphere, the surface of the Ti—Al alloy base is coated with an Al2O3 coating film having extremely low oxygen permeability. The alloy hence has excellent insusceptibility to high temperature oxidation.

Abstract: By inputting differential signals to transistors Tr21a to Tr21d and Tr22a to Tr21d, an addition operation is performed on the four differential signals, and a filter operation is performed by a capacitor C21 and resistors R21 and R22. An offset of a signal obtained as a result of an addition operation performed on the four differential signals is removed by transistors Tr1 and Tr2.

Abstract: A process for producing a toner by subjecting a polymer and a resin component containing a cross-linkable polymer capable of cross-linkingly reacting with the polymer, to cross-linking reaction in the presence of a first wax to form a wax-containing cross-linked polymer composition; mixing the wax-containing cross-linked polymer composition with at least a colorant and a second wax, followed by melt-kneading to form a toner composition; and pulverizing the toner composition to produce toner particles. Also disclosed is a toner produced by this process. The toner thus obtained is a toner whose fixing performance and anti-offset properties are well balanced and also which makes it possible to afford images having less fog and high quality, over a long period of time in environments of from low temperature and low humidity to high temperature and high humidity, and is highly durable without causing any contamination of members with which the toner comes into contact.

Abstract: A multiphase DC/DC converter according to the present invention includes: a plurality of DC/DC converters whose outputs are connected in common to supply electric power to a load; a load state detection portion which detects a state of the load connected to the plurality of DC/DC converters and outputs a detection result; and a control circuit which drives each of the plurality of DC/DC converters based on outputs from the plurality of DC/DC converters, and based on an output from the load state detection portion, drives the plurality of DC/DC converters with output phases of the plurality of DC/DC converters deviated from each other or with the output phases of the plurality of DC/DC converters aligned with each other.

Abstract: In a data reading apparatus performing contactless data communications with IC tags, a multi channel setting section sets a plurality of frequencies to be used for data communication with an IC tag in advance; a multi channel interference detecting section detects radio interference from other data reader in each of the set plurality of frequencies, prior to occurrence of a data communication request with an IC tag; a carrier sense lapse time holding section holds a period of no interference based on an interference detection result from the multi channel interference detecting section; a time comparing section determines whether the carrier sense lapse time held by the carrier sense lapse time holding section is on or above a predetermined carrier sense time upon occurrence of the data communication request with the IC tag, and permits the data communication with the IC tag when the carrier sense lapse time is on or above the carrier sense time; a transmitting section transmits data to the IC tag; and hence

Abstract: The invention is to provide a toner excellent in fixing property, high-temperature offset resistance and blocking resistance, and having an excellent developing property. The invention provides a toner including at least a binder resin and a colorant, wherein: the binder resin contains a hybrid resin which contains a polyester-type resin unit by 50 mass % or more and in which a polyester-type resin component and a vinyl-type resin component are chemically bonded; the toner contains 3 to 50 mass % of a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter derived from the binder resin; the tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter contains a hybrid resin; and a tetrahydrofuran-soluble matter, obtained by hydrolyzing the tetrahydrofuran-insoluble matter and separating by filtration, has, in a GPC-measured molecular weight distribution, a main peak within a molecular weight range of 50,000 to 500,000.

Abstract: A waveform equalizer includes: a calculation circuit (7a) that permits free setting of the boost factor by which the gain, in a predetermined frequency range, for the input signal by varying the boost factor; and an all-pass filter (7b) that is connected to the stage preceding or following the calculation circuit, that has a first conductance amplifier and a second conductance amplifier, and that adjusts and thereby corrects the group delay characteristic of the input signal by varying the conductance of at least one of the first and second conductance amplifiers.

Abstract: By inputting differential signals to transistors Tr21a to Tr21d and Tr22a to Tr21d, an addition operation is performed on the four differential signals, and a filter operation is performed by a capacitor C21 and resistors R21 and R22. An offset of a signal obtained as a result of an addition operation performed on the four differential signals is removed by transistors Tr1 and Tr2.

Abstract: An image forming method and related process cartridge, the method having the steps of controlling the layer thickness of a toner on a toner bearing member by means of a toner regulating blade, and developing with the toner an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image bearing member, the toner regulating blade has, at its part to be kept in touch with the toner bearing member, a specific ten-point average roughness Rz and a specific ratio (area of contact portion/area of non-contact portion) at a specific face pressure, and the toner has a specific average circularity and has a specific aerated bulk density. This image forming method and process cartridge promise superior developing performance in any environment, can keep sleeve negative ghost from occurring and can keep toner melt adhesion to toner regulating blade and toner melt adhesion to toner bearing member from occurring.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for mutual communication, when acting as an authenticator communication apparatus performing authentication, includes a transmitting section that transmits to an authenticatee communication apparatus subject to authentication challenge data to authenticate the authenticatee communication apparatus in a time slot, which is a segmented period of time in which the communication apparatus to communicate with a specific communication apparatus; and a receiving section that receives from the authenticatee communication apparatus first response data for responding to the challenge data in the same time slot as the one in which the transmitting section transmits the challenge data. An objective is to carry out authentication of a tag by a Reader/Writer (R/W) and authentication of the R/W by the tag at the same time as an anti-collision process, and to further achieve confidentiality of unique ID information that is transmitted.