Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller; a heating unit, a pressing unit, a force imparting mechanism, a first pressure releasing mechanism including a first cam portion actable on the force imparting mechanism and a first gear portion for driving the first cam portion; and a second pressure releasing mechanism including a second cam portion actable on the force imparting mechanism and a second gear portion for driving the second cam portion. The first gear portion and the second gear portion engage with each other, and a driving force is transmitted from one gear portion of the first and second gear portions to the other gear portion.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which are inserted, in a controlled manner, defects that originate the waveguides and the resonant cavity that integrate the device. Its main function is to provide the control of the passage of an electromagnetic signal over a communications channel, blocking (state off) or allowing (state on) the passage of the signal. It also has the function of changing the propagation direction of an electromagnetic signal by an angle of 60 degrees, offering greater flexibility in the design of integrated optical systems. The operating principle of the device is associated with the excitation of dipole modes in the resonant cavity, which is based on a magneto-optical material.

Abstract: A photodetection device has an optical module (4) that includes a light source (7), an excitation optical system, and a detection optical system and that two-dimensionally and relatively scans a transparent stage (5) in a first sampling direction and a second sampling direction intersecting the first sampling direction. A scan length in the first sampling direction is longer than a scan length in the second sampling direction. A data sampling unit in the detection optical system performs sampling for a distance of a second sampling interval during scanning in the second sampling direction, and performs sampling for a distance of a first sampling interval shorter than the distance of the second sampling interval during scanning in the first sampling direction. An aperture (10) of the excitation optical system sets a size in the first sampling direction of a spot shape of excitation light from the light source (7) to be smaller than a size in the second sampling direction.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a first unit configured to be brought into contact with a surface of a fixing roller so as to heat the fixing roller, a second unit configured to form a fixing nip portion together with the fixing roller, a first regulation part configured to regulate decrease in distance between a shaft of the fixing roller and the first unit, and a second regulation part configured to regulate decrease in distance between the shaft of the fixing roller and the second unit. Thus, a heating nip width and a fixing nip width are maintained stably for a long period of time.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing roller; a heating unit, a pressing unit, a force imparting mechanism, a first pressure releasing mechanism including a first cam portion actable on the force imparting mechanism and a first gear portion for driving the first cam portion; and a second pressure releasing mechanism including a second cam portion actable on the force imparting mechanism and a second gear portion for driving the second cam portion. The first gear portion and the second gear portion engage with each other, and a driving force is transmitted from one gear portion of the first and second gear portions to the other gear portion.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus including a rotary member in which a generatrix direction thereof is substantially parallel to a generatrix direction of a film, the rotary member being provided between the film and a cover member such that a gap is formed between the film and the rotary member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes an image forming unit, a first pair of rollers, a second pair of rollers, and a holder. The image forming unit is configured to form an image on a sheet. The first pair of rollers is configured to discharge the sheet out of the apparatus, the image having been formed on a first surface of the sheet by the image forming unit. The second pair of rollers is configured to convey the sheet again to the image forming unit to form an image on a second surface of the sheet opposite to the first surface. The holder is configured to hold one of the first pair of rollers and one of the second pair of rollers.

Abstract: The connector includes male terminals and a connector housing that is molded using a metal mold. The metal mold includes a cavity for the connector housing and terminal positioning parts which position the male terminals and each of which includes clearance parts that form openings with contact places in the male terminal with a female terminal at the time of insertion or drawing out of the male terminal. The male terminals are positioned in the metal mold by inserting the counterpart-terminal connecting parts into the terminal positioning parts, and resin is filled in the cavity with the male terminals as insert components, and thereafter, the counterpart-terminal connecting parts are drawn out from the terminal positioning parts, and the connector as a molded item is separated from within the metal mold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention can switch a fixing nip portion between a pressurized state and a pressure released state by rotating a cam via a first engagement portion provided in a fixing unit, and a second engagement portion provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, in which a difference between a phase of the cam in the pressurized state and a phase of the cam in the pressure released state is 180°, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with each other when the fixing unit is mounted on the main body regardless of whether the fixing nip portion is in the pressurized state or the pressure released state.

Abstract: The fixing apparatus includes a first unit configured to be brought into contact with a surface of a fixing roller so as to heat the fixing roller, a second unit configured to form a fixing nip portion together with the fixing roller, a first regulation part configured to regulate a decrease in distance between a shaft of the fixing roller and the first unit, and a second regulation part configured to regulate a decrease in distance between the shaft of the fixing roller and the second unit. Thus, a heating nip width and a fixing nip width are maintained stably for a long period of time.

Abstract: A blue light-emitting Eu-activated silicate phosphor having a constitutional formula of Sr3MgSi2O8 which contains Eu in an amount of 0.001 to 0.2 mol per one mole of Mg and further a rare earth metal element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, Gd, Tb and La in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.03 mol, per one mole of Mg, gives an emission with enhanced emission strength when it is excited with a light having a wavelength in the region of 350 to 430 nm.

Abstract: The connector includes male terminals and a connector housing that is molded using a metal mold. The metal mold includes a cavity for the connector housing and terminal positioning parts which position the male terminals and each of which includes clearance parts that form openings with contact places in the male terminal with a female terminal at the time of insertion or drawing out of the male terminal. The male terminals are positioned in the metal mold by inserting the counterpart-terminal connecting parts into the terminal positioning parts, and resin is filled in the cavity with the male terminals as insert components, and thereafter, the counterpart-terminal connecting parts are drawn out from the terminal positioning parts, and the connector as a molded item is separated from within the metal mold.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a two-dimensional photonic crystal in which defects are inserted in a controlled manner, has the main function of division of the power of an input signal, excited in one of its six waveguides, among other three waveguides (output ones), while keeping isolation of the input port by means of two other waveguides. The operating principle of the device is based on the alignment of a dipole mode excited in the resonant cavity, in such a way that the nodes of this mode are oriented in the direction of two waveguides, so that these waveguides are not excited. Due to this alignment, each of the three output waveguides receive about one third of the power of input signal. The orientation of dipole mode is controlled by the applied DC magnetic field and the physical and geometrical parameters of the resonator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to the present invention can switch a fixing nip portion between a pressurized state and a pressure released state by rotating a cam via a first engagement portion provided in a fixing unit, and a second engagement portion provided in a main body of the image forming apparatus, in which a difference between a phase of the cam in the pressurized state and a phase of the cam in the pressure released state is 180°, and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage with each other when the fixing unit is mounted on the main body regardless of whether the fixing nip portion is in the pressurized state or the pressure released state.

Abstract: There is provided an electrostatic image developing toner less likely to cause image degradation even when used for a long period, by controlling CCA particles present on surfaces of toner particles and thereby keeping an amount of tribocharge generated between the toner and a magnetic carrier or the like constant. A charge control agent composition for external addition for controlling charge amount of toner particles includes: at least two types of carrier particles different in average particle size of primary particles; and a charge control agent (CCA), and an electrostatic image developing toner is constituted of a mixture of toner particles and the aforesaid charge control agent composition for external addition.

Abstract: An OLT includes an OLT control unit that generates a control signal for controlling a power saving operation of an ONU by specifying a different idle period with respect to a first power saving operation in which an optical receiver is operated while an optical transmitter of the ONU is controlled to a power saving state and a second power saving operation for controlling the optical transmitter and the optical receiver to the power saving state, and a station-side transmitter that transmits the control signal generated by the OLT control unit to the ONU. The ONU includes an ONU control unit that receives the control signal via the optical receiver to selectively perform the first power saving operation and the second power saving operation based on the idle period specified by the control signal.

Abstract: A photodetection device has an optical module (4) that includes a light source (7), an excitation optical system, and a detection optical system and that two-dimensionally and relatively scans a transparent stage (5) in a first sampling direction and a second sampling direction intersecting the first sampling direction. A scan length in the first sampling direction is longer than a scan length in the second sampling direction. A data sampling unit in the detection optical system performs sampling for a distance of a second sampling interval during scanning in the second sampling direction, and performs sampling for a distance of a first sampling interval shorter than the distance of the second sampling interval during scanning in the first sampling direction. An aperture (10) of the excitation optical system sets a size in the first sampling direction of a spot shape of excitation light from the light source (7) to be smaller than a size in the second sampling direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus heats and fixes a toner image on a recording material, discharges and cools the recording material, and prevents the heated and fixed toner image on the recording material from being melted. The apparatus also has a conveying portion that is prevented from being cooled, so that unevenness of cooling of the toner image is prevented, and the image forming apparatus does not cause any contact mark of the conveying portion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polycarbonate and polysiloxane block copolymer includes 1 to 50 percent by mass of a siloxane portion derived from a polysiloxane block represented by the following formula (I) and 50 to 99 percent by mass of a carbonate portion derived from a polycarbonate block represented by the following formula (II). There can be provided a novel polycarbonate and polysiloxane block copolymer capable of readily imparting excellent flame retardance, and a flame retardant resin composition.

Abstract: An optical communication system that connects a plurality of user-side optical line terminating apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as ONUs) to a station-side optical line terminating apparatus (hereinafter referred to as OLT) using a common optical fiber, wherein the ONU as at least a part of the ONUs includes a transceiver having a power saving function for inactivating a transmitting unit while supplying electric power to a receiving unit and a control apparatus that transmits support information of the power saving function to the OLT via the transceiver, and the OLT includes a control apparatus that generates transmission allowance information of upstream communication based on the support information of the power saving function and a transceiver that receives the support information of the power saving function and transmits the transmission allowance information to the ONU.