Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developing roller; a supply roller that is in contact with the developing roller and configured to supply toner to the developing roller; a current measuring unit configured to measure an electric current that flows from the developing roller to the supply roller when the toner is supplied from the supply roller to the developing roller; and an error determining unit configured to detect a development error of the developing roller based on the electric current measured by the current measuring unit.

Abstract: A behavior control apparatus collects information of a mobile object in relation to an action space of the mobile object, and acquire a position and an orientation of a human. The behavior control apparatus sets an exclusive area for the human based on the position and the orientation, and judges whether any information is to be notified to the human by the mobile object. If judging negatively, the behavior control apparatus determines a target position, a target orientation and a travel route of the mobile object such that the mobile object moves out of the exclusive area.

Abstract: A developing device that prevents the formation of agglomerated masses of developing agent in the bottom of the developing agent housing chamber near the developing roller and the supply roller, and that maintains the fluidity of the developing agent in the bottom of the developing agent housing chamber, while minimizing any increase in size of the developing device.

Abstract: A developing apparatus is disclosed that includes a developer carrier for carrying a developer used for developing a latent image, a developer supplying chamber having a developer supplying member for supplying the developer to the developer carrier by rotation, a developer storing chamber positioned above the developer supplying chamber for storing the developer and supplying the developer to the developer supplying chamber, and a partitioning member positioned between the developer supplying chamber and the developer storing chamber. The partitioning member has an opening through which the developer is supplied from the developer storing chamber to the developer supplying chamber. The developing apparatus includes a conveying member positioned above the partitioning member for conveying the developer in a substantially horizontal direction.

Abstract: A developer regulating member capable of stably regulating the thickness of a developer even when used for a long time, while preventing the increase in the production cost, a developing device having the developer regulating member, an image forming apparatus having the developing device, a process cartridge, and a method of producing the developer regulating member. The average crystal particle diameter D [?m] of a plate-like member provided in a layer-thinning blade which functions as the developer regulating member and which abuts against a developing roller functioning as a developer carrier, and the curvature radius R [?m] of a bent portion satisfy the relationship of D?60.53×R×10?3?12.61.

Abstract: In an ammonia sensor (1), lead portions (7) and (9) are provided on an insulating substrate (5); a pair of comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13) are connected to the lead portions (7) and (9), respectively; a sensitive layer (15) is provided on the comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13); and a protective layer (17) is provided on the sensitive layer (15). Particularly, the sensitive layer (15) is formed of a gas-sensitive raw material predominantly containing ZrO2 and containing at least W in an amount of 2 to 40 wt. % as reduced to WO3.

Abstract: This invention provides a gas sensor including a proton-conductive polymer electrolyte layer and a method for measuring gas concentration, that are capable of measuring gas concentration at high accuracy notwithstanding the presence of water vapor.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor capable of accurately measuring hydrogen concentration of a measurement gas atmosphere in the presence of a variety of interfering gasses such as H2O and CO. In the hydrogen gas sensor, the flow sectional area of a diffusion-rate limiting portion 6 is rendered small; the electrode surfaces of first and second electrodes 3 and 4 are rendered large; and/or a solution containing a polymer electrolyte which may be identical to that of a proton-conductive layer 2 is applied onto the surfaces of the first and second electrodes 3 and 4 to thereby form a layer containing the polymer electrolyte. Thus, the rate of conduction of protons from the first electrode 3 to the second electrode 4 becomes greater than the rate at which protons are derived from hydrogen which is introduced onto the first electrode 3 via the diffusion-rate limiting portion 6.

Abstract: A developing device is provided with which the increase in torque of a supply roller, unevenness of image density, and wear to the supply roller caused by the formation of an aggregated block of toner in the gap between the supply roller and the opposing side wall of a supply developer holding chamber can be suppressed.

Abstract: A humidity-sensitive porous layer (13) of a humidity-sensitive element section (3) of a humidity sensor (1) is formed of a crystalline phase oxide grains such as Al2O3—SnO2—TiO2 and of a glass phase such as silicate glass covering the crystalline phase. The glass phase contains an alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide such as Li2O. The humidity sensitive porous layer (13) assumes a skeletal structure that is formed of crystalline phase oxide grains covered or coated with the glass phase. A heater (17) of the humidity sensor is controlled to heat the humidity-sensitive element section (3) at a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 800° C. so as to clean off the humidity-sensitive element section while an internal combustion engine is running and exhausting fouling substances.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a first electrode 3 and a second electrode 4 provided in contact with a proton conduction layer 2; a gas diffusion controlling portion 6 provided between a measurement gas atmosphere and the first electrode 3; and a support element (1a, 1b) for supporting the proton conduction layer 6, the first electrode 3, the second electrode 4, and the gas diffusion controlling portion 6. Hydrogen contained in a measurement gas introduced via the gas diffusion controlling portion 6 is dissociated, decomposed, or reacted by applying a voltage between the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 4 to thereby generate protons. Hydrogen concentration is obtained on the basis of a limiting current generated as a result of the generated protons being pumped out via the proton conduction layer 2 from the first electrode 3 side of the proton conduction layer to the second electrode 4 side of the proton conduction layer.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developer bearing member configured to bear a developer on a surface thereof, a developer supplying member configured to supply the developer to the developer bearing member, a regulating member configured to regulate the developer supplied on the surface of the developer bearing member to form into a thin layer, and being located at a position lower than a nip of the developer bearing member and the developer supplying member, and a partition wall configured to divide the developing device into two chambers, and arranged with at least one developer path having a bottom portion thereof located lower than a contact point of the developer bearing member and the regulating member.

Abstract: With respect to encrypted content 104 stored in content storage medium 102, by storing information with a small data amount related to the encrypted content 104 in content storage medium 102 in association with the encrypted content 104, it is possible to distinguish between encrypted content 104 based on the related information without decoding the encrypted content 104 with a large data amount. It is thereby possible to more readily distinguish between a plurality of pieces of content stored in the content storage medium.

Abstract: A humidity-sensitive porous layer (13) of a humidity-sensitive element section (3) of a humidity sensor (1) is formed of a crystalline phase oxide grains such as Al2O3—SnO2—TiO2 and of a glass phase such as silicate glass covering the crystalline phase. The glass phase contains an alkali metal oxide and/or alkaline earth metal oxide such as Li2O. The humidity sensitive porous layer (13) assumes a skeletal structure that is formed of crystalline phase oxide grains covered or coated with the glass phase. A heater (17) of the humidity sensor is controlled to heat the humidity-sensitive element section (3) at a temperature ranging from 500° C. to 800° C. so as to clean off the humidity-sensitive element section while an internal combustion engine is running and exhausting fouling substances.

Abstract: With content management apparatus 110 serving as a copy origin and storage medium 120 as a copy target, the copy origin retains allowed copy count control information on content, and when the content is copied from the copy origin to the copy target, the allowed copy count control information retained at the copy origin before copy processing is updated in accordance with a predetermined rule to generate allowed copy count control information to be retained at the copy origin and allowed copy count control information to be retained at the copy target, and subsequent copy processing at the copy origin is done based on the allowed copy count control information retained at the copy origin, whereas subsequent copy processing on the content stored in storage medium 120 is done based on the allowed copy count control information stored in storage medium 120. In this way, it is possible to achieve content management which is easily understandable for users.

Abstract: A CO sensor and a CO-concentration measurement method which enables accurate measurement of CO concentration irrespective of the hydrogen concentration of a gas under measurement. By applying a first predetermined voltage between first and second electrodes 7 and 8, hydrogen contained in a gas under measurement which has been introduced into a first measurement space 2 via a first diffusion-controlling section 1 dissociates, decomposes, or reacts with another element to generate protons. The thus-generated protons are transported from the first electrode 7 to the second electrode 8 via a first proton-conductive layer 5 or protons are transported from the second electrode 8 to the first electrode 7 via the first proton-conductive layer 5 (when the hydrogen concentration of the measurement gas is extremely low), so that the hydrogen concentration within the first measurement space 2 is controlled to a constant level.

Abstract: In an ammonia sensor (1), lead portions (7) and (9) are provided on an insulating substrate (5); a pair of comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13) are connected to the lead portions (7) and (9), respectively; a sensitive layer (15) is provided on the comb-shaped electrodes (11) and (13); and a protective layer (17) is provided on the sensitive layer (15). Particularly, the sensitive layer (15) is formed of a gas-sensitive raw material predominantly containing ZrO2 and containing at least W in an amount of 2 to 40 wt. % as reduced to WO3.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a content management system in which content data recorded on a memory card (1) is used by a content use terminal (2). The memory card (1) has recorded, in a protected area of which reading from outside is restricted, protected information including use restriction information indicative of conditions for using encrypted content data, and key information. The content use terminal (2) performs mutual authentication with the memory card (1). Furthermore, the content user terminal (2) reads the protected information from the protected area only when mutual authentication succeeds. Then, based on the use restriction information included in the read protected information, it is decided whether or not the content data recorded on the memory card (1) is usable. Also, the management server (3) transmits use restriction update information to the content use terminal (2) so as to update the use restriction information.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor capable of accurately measuring hydrogen concentration of a measurement gas atmosphere in the presence of a variety of interfering gasses such as H2O and CO. In the hydrogen gas sensor, the flow sectional area of a diffusion-rate limiting portion 6 is rendered small; the electrode surfaces of first and second electrodes 3 and 4 are rendered large; and/or a solution containing a polymer electrolyte which may be identical to that of a proton-conductive layer 2 is applied onto the surfaces of the first and second electrodes 3 and 4 to thereby form a layer containing the polymer electrolyte. Thus, the rate of conduction of protons from the first electrode 3 to the second electrode 4 becomes greater than the rate at which protons are derived from hydrogen which is introduced onto the first electrode 3 via the diffusion-rate limiting portion 6.

Abstract: A developing device of monocomponent development system for developing a latent image formed on an image bearing member according to the present invention includes a toner carrying member disposed opposite the image bearing member via a gap of 50 to 250 &mgr;m therebetween, and including a conductive substrate and an elastic layer having a rubber hardness of not more than 70 degrees and a thickness in the range of 7 to 50 &mgr;m, and a regulating member pressed against a surface of the toner carrying member for regulating the amount of toner on the toner carrying member.