Abstract: An image forming apparatus and an image forming method in the invention include a scanner unit, an image forming unit, and a discarding unit. When time during which a recording medium having an image formed thereon is discharged to a paper discharge tray has exceeded a set time set in advance, the recording medium is discarded to the discarding unit to prevent the recording medium from being inspected by a third party and secure confidentiality.

Abstract: In order to provide an automatic job template generating apparatus capable of making operations simpler by reducing the steps in the user interface operation to match a frequently used capability of an MFP, an automatic job template generating apparatus of the invention is formed of an operation history acquisition unit configured to acquire an operation history of a multi function peripherals for each user according to information accessed to the multi function peripherals on the Web, an operation frequency analysis unit configured to analyze an operation frequency at regular timing according to the operation history acquired by the operation history acquisition unit, and a job template generation unit configured to newly generate a job execution parameter having a high operation frequency on an operation screen as a job template button according to an analysis result of the operation analysis unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the invention has an object to provide an image processing apparatus enabling the user to improve the operation ability even when furnished with a wide variety of capabilities, and a method for supporting an operation of the image processing apparatus, which is formed by including: an instruction unit configured to provide plural operation instructions to a user by displaying one of plural operation screens and plural operation items; an operation skill level calculation unit configured to calculate a level of skill of the user for an operation instructed by the instruction unit for one of each operation screen and each operation item displayed by the instruction unit according to an operation by the user; and an operation support unit configured to support the operation instructed by the instruction unit according to the level of skill calculated by the operation skill level calculation unit.

Abstract: A battery charging method that detects the voltage of each series-connected battery, discharges batteries with voltage exceeding a prescribed voltage, and charges a plurality of batteries while maintaining cell balance. This charging method detects the voltage of each battery being charged and if any battery voltage exceeds the prescribed voltage, only the battery that exceeds the prescribed voltage is discharged, after a specified charging time, until its voltage drops to the prescribed voltage. Batteries that do not exceed the prescribed voltage are not discharged, and thereby all batteries are charged while balancing their voltages.

Abstract: A carrying case (1) of a portable water cleaner includes a case main body (2) having an opening portion (2a) and forming a container (2b) that contains water, and a lid member (3) that opens/closes the opening portion (2a), and a filtration device (10) which purifies uncleaned water into drinking water is detachably and replaceably housed in the lid member. Further, a pump unit (25) which suctions the uncleaned water contained in the container (2b) and supplies the uncleaned water to the filtration device (10) is provided in the case main body (2).

Abstract: A carrying case (1) of a portable water cleaner includes a case main body (2) having an opening portion (2a) and forming a container (2b) that contains water, and a lid member (3) that opens/closes the opening portion (2a), and a filtration device (10) which purifies uncleaned water into drinking water is detachably and replaceably housed in the lid member. Further, a pump unit (25) which suctions the uncleaned water contained in the container (2b) and supplies the uncleaned water to the filtration device (10) is provided in the case main body (2).

Abstract: A display has a member irradiated by a surface light source device comprising a light diffusion member and emission device. The emission device is provided with a light flux control member having a recess and light control emission face which is configurated so as to satisfy Conditions 1 and 2 in a range at least covering a half-intensity-angular-range. Light emitting element(s) may be sealed. Condition 1 is that relation ?5/?1>1 is satisfied except for light emitted from a light emitting element toward within an angular-neighbourhood of a standard optical axis of the emission device, and Condition 2 is that value of ?5/?1 decreases gradually according to increasing of ?1, where ?1 is an emission angle of any light at being emitted from the light emitting element, and ?5 is an emission angle of that light of ?1 at then being emitted from the light control emission face of the light flux control member.

Abstract: In a hand warmer, a heat dissipating plate is thermally coupled to a heater that is supplied with current by a battery that is accommodated in a case. The battery is a box-shaped rechargeable battery of a box-shaped rechargeable lithium-ion battery or lithium-polymer battery that has flat surfaces opposed to each other. The heater is a heating element that is opposed to the flat surface of the battery. A shielding plate is arranged between the heating element and the flat surface of the battery. The heat dissipating plate that is thermally coupled to the heating element is secured to the case on the surface side of the case. In the hand warmer, the flat surface of the box-shaped rechargeable battery, the shielding plate and the heat dissipating plate are arranged in a stack structure. The heat dissipating plate is heated by the heating element.

Abstract: A technique is provided which can realize scanning by a light flux having a desired optical characteristic in a light beam scanning device adopting a multi-beam optical system. There are provided a pre-deflection optical system that shapes divergent light beams from plural light sources into a light flux having a cross-sectional shape long in a specified direction, and a rotary deflector that deflects the light flux shaped by the pre-deflection optical system and scans it in the specified direction, and the pre-deflection optical system includes a first optical system that weakens a degree of divergence of the divergent light beams from the plural light sources or converts them into parallel light beams or converging light beams, a second optical system including at least one lens having a negative power in a rotation axis direction of the rotary deflector, and a third optical system having a positive power in the rotation axis direction of the rotary deflector.

Abstract: A technique is provided which can improve optical characteristics by suppressing the occurrence of an error in attachment of a rotary deflector that deflects a light flux from a light source and scans it in a main scanning direction. There are provided a rotary deflector that deflects the light flux from the light source and scans it in the main scanning direction, an imaging optical system that images the light flux scanned by the rotary deflector onto a specified scanning object, a support part that supports the rotary deflector rotatably, and a positioning part that comes in contact with the support part at plural contact positions and positions the support part, in which a shortest distance between the plural contact positions in an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system is longer than a shortest distance between the plural contact positions in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to form an interlayer insulating film on a substrate and cure the interlayer insulating film in a time shorter than that in the prior art. The present invention is a substrate processing method in which the interlayer insulating film formed on the substrate is irradiated with electron beams in a processing chamber, whereby the interlayer insulating film is cured.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an acid anhydride by reacting a carboxylic acid, preferably a carboxylic acid having a polymerizable group, with a sulfonyl halide compound in the presence of a tertiary amine or in the presence of a tertiary amine and an inorganic base, wherein the tertiary amine or the tertiary amine and the inorganic base are used in an amount of 0.9 to 1.2 equivalents relative to the acid generated from the sulfonyl halide compound.

Abstract: An operating switch mechanism in an IC recorder having an operating switch button for slide operation includes an IC recorder main body and an operating unit. The operating unit is attached to the main body by fixing a frame member on the operating unit side with a screw hole of a groove portion. The operating unit includes an operating switch button, a slide plate which switches-on/off switches, and a click spring member which holds a rubber roller. The rubber roller is abutted against a projected portion, a cam surface and an inclined can surface of an inner cam surface portion arranged on the main body side, and the operating switch button is held at the click determining position. The operating switch mechanism is used for an electronic device with high maintenance performance.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device 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, wherein the post-deflection optical system has one or a plurality of scanning line bending correction members which are arranged while declined with respect to a central light of the light beam from the light deflection device in a sub-scanning cross section.

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: 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 scanning unit according to the present invention can decrease the degree of change when the quantity of light is changed on a photoconductor, thereby decreasing an image density difference occurred when forming an image.

Abstract: In a non-sealed type light emitting device in which a diode structure on a face of a transparent substrate by lamination of an n-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer, an outer face of the transparent substrate is made not in parallel with a most outer face of the diode structure by, for example, being slanted so as to increase a light taking efficiency from an exit face of light. An incident angle of a light beam entering into an exit face of light is gradually reduces by repeating total reflection on these two faces so as to make is smaller than a critical angle, and to emit the light beams outward of the light emitting device.

Abstract: A spirofluorenol such as 3?,9?-dimethoxy-5?-hydroxyspiro[(1H-cyclopent[d,e,f]phenanthrene)-1,7?-benzo[c]fluorene] is produced by protecting a hydroxyl group bonded to a particular fluorenone compound such as 3,9-dimethoxy-5-hydroxybenzo[c]fluorene-7-one with “a substituted silyl group in which the sum of carbon atoms of substituents bonded to a silicon atom is 5 to 12”, such as a t-butyldimethylsilyl group, then, reacting the fluorenone compound with a particular organometal compound such as 1-lithiophenanthrene so as to be transformed into a spiro form and, then, removing the protection therefrom. This method makes it possible to efficiently produce the spirofluorenol which is useful as a starting material for producing photochromic compounds.