Abstract: A Fabry-Perot interference filter 10A includes a first mirror 31; a second mirror 41 being opposite to the first mirror 31 with a gap S therebetween; a first electrode 17 formed in the first mirror 31 to surround a light transmission region 11; a second electrode 18 formed in the first mirror 31 to include the light transmission region 11; and a third electrode 19 formed in the second mirror 41 to be opposite to the first electrode 17 and the second electrode 18 and connected to the same potential as the second electrode 18. The second electrode 18 is positioned at the side of the third electrode 19 or the opposite side thereof with respect to the first electrode 17 in an opposite direction D where the first mirror 31 and the second mirror 41 are opposite each other.

Abstract: A Fabry-Perot interference filter includes a fixed mirror and a movable mirror disposed opposite to the fixed mirror via a gap, distance between the fixed mirror and the movable in a light transmission region being adjusted by electrostatic force. A plurality of first annular grooves surrounding the light transmission region and a plurality of first through-holes opening to the gap side and the opposite side are formed at a surrounding portion surrounding the light transmission region in the movable mirror.

Abstract: A spectroscope comprises a package provided with a light entrance part, a plurality of lead pins penetrating through a support part opposing the light entrance part in the package, and a spectroscopic module supported on the support part within the package. The spectroscopic module has a light detection unit provided with a light transmission part for transmitting therethrough light incident thereon from the light entrance part and a spectroscopic unit, secured to the light detection unit so as to be arranged on the support part side of the light detection unit, including a spectroscopic part for spectrally resolving the light transmitted through the light transmission part while reflecting the light to a light detection part. The lead pins are fitted into fitting parts provided with the light detection unit and electrically connected to the light detection part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes a fixing unit configured to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording medium while conveying the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image at a nip portion. The fixing unit includes a fixing rotating member and a pressure member forming the nip portion with the fixing rotating member. The apparatus also includes: a counting portion configured to count the cumulative rotation time of the fixing rotating member and the cumulative number of startups of the fixing unit; and a notifying portion configured to performing notification of information about at least one of the lifetime expiration of the fixing unit and the necessity of replacing the fixing unit. The notifying portion performs the notification in accordance with the cumulative rotation time and the cumulative number of startups of the fixing unit.

Abstract: A spectral sensor includes a wiring substrate which has a principal surface; a light detector which is disposed on the principal surface of the wiring substrate and is electrically connected to the wiring substrate; spacer which is disposed around the light detector, on the principal surface of the wiring substrate; and a Fabry-Perot interference filter which has a light transmission region and is disposed on the principal surface of the wiring substrate with the spacer therebetween. The spacer support the Fabry-Perot interference filter in a surrounding region of the light transmission region and the spacer is arranged to form opening communicating with an inner side of the surrounding region and an outer side of the surrounding region, when viewed from a light transmission direction in the light transmission region.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material includes: a temperature detection portion that detects the temperature of a heating member; a controller that controls the power to be supplied to the heating member so that the temperature detected by the temperature detection portion becomes the target temperature; and an acquisition portion that acquires information on a ratio of a region, where the toner image is formed, in a predetermined region located in an end portion of the recording material in a width direction thereof, and this controller changes the target temperature in accordance with the ratio.

Abstract: A spectral sensor includes a Fabry-Perot interference filter which is provided with an opening to pass light transmitted according to a distance between a first mirror and a second mirror along a facing direction; a light detector which has a light reception unit to receive the light having passed through the opening; a wiring substrate on which the light detector is mounted; and a plurality of spacers which support the filter on the wiring substrate, such that a second space continuous with a first space in the opening and including the first space when viewed from the facing direction is formed between the filter and the wiring substrate. The light detector is disposed in the second space. The light reception unit is disposed in a region corresponding to the first space in the second space, when viewed from the facing direction.

Abstract: A spectral sensor 1A includes a Fabry-Perot interference filter 10 which has a light transmission region 11; a light detector 3 which detects light having transmitted the light transmission region 11; spacers 4A and 4B which support the Fabry-Perot interference filter 10 in a surrounding region of the light transmission region 11; and a die bond resin 5 which adheres the Fabry-Perot interference filter 10 and the spacers 4A and 4B to each other. The die bond resin 5 has one opening A2 communicating with an inner side of the surrounding region and an outer side of the surrounding region, when viewed from a light transmission direction in the light transmission region 11.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main assembly; an image bearing member; a transfer member cooperative with the image bearing member to form a transfer portion; a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member; a heater for heating the sheet having a transferred toner image; a detector for detecting a value relating to an amount of water vapor in the main assembly; and a control unit for executing a moisture removing control for reducing an amount of water vapor produced in the main assembly, by heating the sheet by the heater on the basis of the amount of change, caused by passage of the sheet in an image forming operation, of the value detected by the detector.

Abstract: On a second surface of a contact member opposite to a first surface in contact with an endless film, a plurality of sheets, each having a thermal conductivity in a planar direction higher than in a thickness direction and having a thickness of less than 100 ?m, are superposed.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a first resonator, a second resonator, and a frequency adjusting unit. The second resonator has a frequency characteristic different from a frequency characteristic of the first resonator. The frequency adjusting unit is configured to change a ratio between a contribution of the first resonator and a contribution of the second resonator so as to adjust an output frequency.

Abstract: A spectroscope comprises a package provided with a light entrance part, a plurality of lead pins penetrating through a support part opposing the light entrance part in the package, a light detection unit supported on the support part within the package, and a spectroscopic unit supported on the support part within the package so as to be arranged on the support part side of the light detection unit. The light detection unit has a light transmission part for transmitting therethrough light incident thereon from the light entrance part. The spectroscopic unit has a spectroscopic part for spectrally resolving the light transmitted through the light transmission part while reflecting the light to a light detection part. The lead pins are fitted into fitting parts provided with the light detection unit and electrically connected to the light detection part.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, and an output unit. The fixing unit includes a heating member and a backup member. The backup member forms a nip with the heating member. The output unit, provided on a downstream side of the nip, outputs the recording medium to an outside of the apparatus. The recording medium is conveyed at the nip with a side of the recording medium facing the heating member set as an upper side of the recording medium.

Abstract: On a second surface of a contact member opposite to a first surface in contact with an endless film, a plurality of sheets, each having a thermal conductivity in a planar direction higher than in a thickness direction and having a thickness of less than 100 ?m, are superposed.

Abstract: Provided is a heat fixing apparatus, which suppresses the depletion of a lubricant applied to an inside of the heat fixing apparatus and which has long life and high reliability, the heat fixing apparatus including a heating rotary member and a pressurizing rotary member, and containing, as a lubricant in a sliding portion, (A) perfluoropolyether oil having a kinetic viscosity at 40° C. of from 100 to 200 mm2/s and an evaporation loss being 1.2 mass % or less in a case where 10 g of a sample of the perfluoropolyether oil is placed in a petri dish having an inner diameter of 41 mm and allowed to stand still at 250° C. for 200 hours and (B) polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes an image forming unit, a fixing unit, and an output unit. The fixing unit includes a heating member and a backup member. The backup member forms a nip with the heating member. The output unit, provided on a downstream side of the nip, outputs the recording medium to an outside of the apparatus. The recording medium is conveyed at the nip with a side of the recording medium facing the heating member set as an upper side of the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly; an image bearing member; a transfer member cooperative with the image bearing member to form a transfer portion; a voltage source for applying a voltage to the transfer member; a heater for heating the sheet having a transferred toner image; a detector for detecting a value relating to an amount of water vapor in the main assembly; and a control unit for executing a moisture removing control for reducing an amount of water vapor producing or produced in the main assembly, by heating the sheet by the heater on the basis of a amount of change, caused by passge of the sheet in a image forming operation, of the value detected by the detector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material includes the following: a temperature detection portion that detects temperature of a heating member; a controller that controls power to be supplied to the heating member so that the temperature detected by the temperature detection portion becomes target temperature; and an acquisition portion that acquires information on a ratio of a region, where the toner image is formed, in a predetermined region located in an end portion of the recording material in a width direction thereof, and this controller changes the target temperature in accordance with the ratio.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording medium includes: a fixing unit configured to fix the unfixed toner image on the recording medium while conveying the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image at a nip portion, the fixing unit including a fixing rotating member and a pressure member forming the nip portion with the fixing rotating member; a counting portion configured to count cumulative rotation time of the fixing rotating member and a cumulative number of startups of said fixing unit; and a notifying portion configured to notify information about at least one of lifetime expiration of the fixing unit and necessity of replacing the fixing unit, wherein the notifying portion notifies the information in accordance with the cumulative rotation time and the cumulative number of startups.

Abstract: A SERS unit comprises an integrally formed handling board and a SERS element secured within a container space provided in the handling board so as to open to one side in a thickness direction of the handling board. The SERS element has a substrate arranged on an inner surface of the container space and an optical function part formed on the substrate, for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering.