Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a semiconductor laser device as a light source, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, with a width of the luminous flux made incident on the polygon mirror being wider than a width of one reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror, wherein at least two sheets of flat plate for transmitting the luminous flux scanned by the polygon mirror are provided in the post-deflection optical system. In accordance with an image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention, not only a wave front aberration on a photoconductive drum can be suitably corrected, but suitable beam diameter and beam profile can be obtained on the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a semiconductor laser device as a light source, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, with a width of the luminous flux made incident on the polygon mirror being wider than a width of one reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror, wherein at least two sheets of flat plate for transmitting the luminous flux scanned by the polygon mirror are provided in the post-deflection optical system. In accordance with an image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention, not only a wave front aberration on a photoconductive drum can be suitably corrected, but suitable beam diameter and beam profile can be obtained on the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: The battery pack is provided with communication lines that connect with attached electrical equipment, a temperature-sensing element that connects with a communication line, a switching device that connects with the temperature-sensing element, and a control section to control the switching device. The control section puts the switching device in the open state when the communication lines are being used and puts the switching device in the closed state when the communication lines are not being used to output temperature-sensing element voltage to the electrical equipment-side via the communication lines.

Abstract: A light flux control member has a back face provided with a first recess portion and ventilation grooves. Output light of the light emitting element arranged as to correspond to the first recess portion enters into the light flux control member via the first recess portion and ventilation grooves being emitted from a light control emission face of the light flux control member after inner-propagation. Refraction of incident light to second recess portions formed in the ventilation grooves hardly generate inner-propagation light which has travelling directions near to a direction of reference optical axis L. This avoids emission from the light control emission face from providing a ring-like bright part. In addition, heat emitted from the light emitting element can be released at a high efficiency because a space in the first recess portion communicates with the outside of the light flux control member.

Abstract: In a dyeing method of an aluminum-based member, a first color forming material is held in a hole of a first region of an anodized film, a second color forming material is held in holds of a second region that is smaller than the first region by diagonally spraying, When the second colored layer is formed, a gradation region is formed in a boundary with the first region and the second region, and the hole are closed.

Abstract: A light flux control member has a back face provided with a recess and a ring-like-recess-portion surrounding the recess. Output light of a point-like-light-source (light emission element) is incident to the recess and the ring-like-recess-portion. Incident light to the recess is emitted from a light control emission face after inner-propagation. Incident light to the ring-like-recess-portion is refracted as to hardly generate inner-propagation light deflected to directions near to a direction of reference optical axis L, resulting in outgoing from any part of the light control emission face, or, if some outgoing occurs from the light control emission face, such outgoing occurs only at an outer periphery portion of the light control emission face. As a result, illumination light quality is avoided from being reduced by appearance of conspicuous ring-like bright part. In addition, uniform illumination light can be supplied to a broad angle range.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a laser, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein the post-deflection optical system includes at least one optical element configured by allowing a resin to flow into a molding die through a gate opening provided in advance to the molding die and then molding the resin into a prescribed shape; and in the optical element, a side corresponding to a side of the gate opening through which the resin flows is provided to a light incidence side where the luminous flux enters into the polygon mirror.

Abstract: A battery pack including a discharge current interruption FET which cuts off the discharge current, and a minimum voltage detecting portion which switches the discharge current interruption FET from ON to OFF state when the voltage of any battery becomes lower than a minimum voltage. The charge circuit includes a charge current switching portion which switches the charge current so as to charge the battery pack in a main charge mode when the output voltage is higher than a prescribed voltage, and in a preliminary charge mode with a small current when the output voltage is lower than the prescribed voltage. A charge current switching portion charges the battery pack in the preliminary charge mode in the state where the OFF signal of the discharge current interruption FET is provided, even in the state where the output voltage of the battery pack is higher than the prescribed voltage.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a laser, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein the post-deflection optical system includes at least one optical element configured by allowing a resin to flow into a molding die through a gate opening provided in advance to the molding die and then molding the resin into a prescribed shape; and in the optical element, a side corresponding to a side of the gate opening through which the resin flows is provided to a light incidence side where the luminous flux enters into the polygon mirrior.

Abstract: A light-emitting device (10) is arranged such that (x) R1 monotonically decreasing as ?1 increases, at least in a range of ?1<?/3, where an intersection of a light axis Z and an emission surface of a light-emitting element (1) is a reference point; ?1 is an angle between the light axis Z and a straight line that passes through the reference point and an arbitrary point on a light-incoming surface (2a), and R1 is a distance between the reference point and the arbitrary point on the light-incoming surface (2a); (y) R2 monotonically increasing as ?2 increases, at least in a range of ?2<?/3, where ?2 is an angle between the light axis Z and a straight line that passes through the reference point and an arbitrary point on a light-outgoing surface (2b), and R2 is a distance between the reference point and the arbitrary point on the light-outgoing surface (2b); and (z) A2 scatters light without generating uneven brightness on a liquid crystal display panel and has higher scattering ability that is obtained by

Abstract: A battery pack has a rechargeable battery, a pair of externally exposed charge/discharge terminals connected to the electrodes of the rechargeable battery, and an externally exposed battery pack signal terminal for identifying the type of the battery pack. The battery pack further has a battery pack communication portion connected to the battery pack signal terminal for receiving an authenticity signal transmitted from an electrical equipment unit through the battery pack signal terminal; a random number generating portion for generating a random number based on a predetermined condition; and a battery pack control portion for generating a detection signal based on the authenticity signal received by the battery pack communication portion and the random number generated by the random number generating portion, and for transmitting the detection signal from the battery pack communication portion to the electrical equipment unit side through the battery pack signal terminal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for producing a fluorine-containing alkyl (meth)acrylate represented by the following general formula (2): Rf—(CH2)k-[-A-(CH2)l—]m—OCOCR?CH2??(2) (wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group), characterized by reacting a fluorine-containing alcohol represented by the following general formula (1): Rf—(CH2)k-[-A-(CH2)l—]m—OH??(1) (wherein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 21 carbon atoms; A is S, SO or SO2; k is 0, 1 or 2; 1 is k, 2 or 3; m is 0 or 1; however, a case of k=0 and m=0 is excluded), (meth)acrylic acid, and a sulfonic acid halide in the presence of a base containing at least one kind of tertiary amine.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention includes a semiconductor laser device, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein at least one imaging lens for imaging the luminous flux is provided in the post-deflection optical system includes; at least one projection on a vertical surface to a sub-scanning direction axis is provided in the imaging lens; and at least one positioning member having an engaging groove into which the projection is interfitted and which is engaged in a concave-convex shape is provided in the housing unit of the optical beam scanning apparatus. In accordance with an image forming apparatus according to the invention, in a scanning optical system using an imaging lens or an imaging mirror, influences against optical characteristics following an environmental fluctuation or a change with time can be reduced.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device of the invention includes a single light deflection device, a pre-deflection optical system which causes a light beam emitted from a light source to be incident to the light deflection device, and a post-deflection optical system which images the light beam, reflected from the light deflection device, onto a scanned surface. In the optical beam scanning device, an alignment surface to which the lens is fitted is located near a main scanning direction line passing through a midpoint of a maximum section thickness of the lens in at least one lens in one or the plurality of lenses constituting the post-deflection optical system.

Abstract: An image-sorting apparatus includes a feeding unit to feed printed sheets sequentially carried in from an external print unit, in which an electronic watermark is added to an important printed sheet. Particularly, the image-sorting apparatus includes a read unit to read the electronic watermark from the printed sheet fed by the feeding unit, and a control unit to control the feeding unit to feed the printed sheets to one of a first and a second transfer position based on a read result of the electronic watermark.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention includes a semiconductor laser device, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein at least one imaging lens for imaging the luminous flux is provided in the post-deflection optical system includes; at least one projection on a vertical surface to a sub-scanning direction axis is provided in the imaging lens; and at least one positioning member having an engaging groove into which the projection is interfitted and which is engaged in a concave-convex shape is provided in the housing unit of the optical beam scanning apparatus. In accordance with an image forming apparatus according to the invention, in a scanning optical system using an imaging lens or an imaging mirror, influences against optical characteristics following an environmental fluctuation or a change with time can be reduced.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention includes a semiconductor laser device, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein at least one imaging lens for imaging the luminous flux is provided in the post-deflection optical system includes; at least one projection on a vertical surface to a sub-scanning direction axis is provided in the imaging lens; and at least one positioning member having an engaging groove into which the projection is interfitted and which is engaged in a concave-convex shape is provided in the housing unit of the optical beam scanning apparatus. In accordance with an image forming apparatus according to the invention, in a scanning optical system using an imaging lens or an imaging mirror, influences against optical characteristics following an environmental fluctuation or a change with time can be reduced.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a semiconductor laser device as a light source, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, with a width of the luminous flux made incident on the polygon mirror being wider than a width of one reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror, wherein at least two sheets of flat plate for transmitting the luminous flux scanned by the polygon mirror are provided in the post-deflection optical system. In accordance with an image forming apparatus provided with an optical beam scanning apparatus according to the invention, not only a wave front aberration on a photoconductive drum can be suitably corrected, but suitable beam diameter and beam profile can be obtained on the photoconductive drum.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a laser, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein the post-deflection optical system includes at least one optical element configured by allowing a resin to flow into a molding die through a gate opening provided in advance to the molding die and then molding the resin into a prescribed shape; and in the optical element, a side corresponding to a side of the gate opening through which the resin flows is provided to a light incidence side where the luminous flux enters into the polygon mirror.

Abstract: In a digital multiple apparatus, at least two different jobs are processed by at least two job processing units, and while job processing by one job processing unit, if there is an interruption by job processing by the other job processing unit, an end time of the job processing by the one job processing unit is predicted on the basis of job processing time required for the job processing by the other job processing unit.