Abstract: A driving device for driving a semiconductor element can include a plurality of protection circuits that detect information necessary for performing protection operation for semiconductor elements that include a power conversion apparatus, a pulse signal generation circuit that sets a pulse sequence signal with a pulse width differently for each of the protection circuits and outputs a pulse sequence signal corresponding to the protection circuit that has been first detected a need for protection operation. The device can also include an alarm signal forming circuit that forms an alarm signal by ON-OFF control of a switching element and externally outputs the alarm signal, and a protection operation state discrimination circuit that discriminates existence of a protection operation state based on the alarm signal from the alarm signal forming circuit, and an alarm control circuit that delivers the pulse sequence signal outputted from the pulse signal generation circuit.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on the amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of a charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging-bias power-supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output circuit capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and an AC detector for detecting an alternating current passing through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detector and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control space saving, and cost reduction of the power-supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable latent image bearing member; a charging device contacting with the latent image bearing member and being provided with a voltage applied thereto for charging the latent image bearing member; a cleaning device contacting with the latent image bearing member for cleaning the latent image bearing member; and a transfer device contacting with the latent image bearing member and being provided with a transfer voltage for transferring, to a transfer medium, an image developed with a developer in an image forming area. The charging device, when in contact with an area constituting an image forming area of the latent image bearing member, is provided with an AC voltage for charging a non-image forming area having a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a peak-to-peak voltage of a charging AC voltage applied to the charging device for charging an area constituting the image forming area.

Abstract: After an application of a first AC voltage for selecting a peak-to-peak voltage of a charging AC voltage for charging an image forming area of an image bearing member and before an application of a charging AC voltage, there is applied a second AC voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a peak-to-peak voltage of the first AC voltage.

Abstract: After an application of a first AC voltage for selecting a peak-to-peak voltage of a charging AC voltage for charging an image forming area of an image bearing member and before an application of a charging AC voltage, there is applied a second AC voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a peak-to-peak voltage of the first AC voltage.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on the amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of a charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging-bias power-supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output circuit capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and an AC detector for detecting an alternating current passing through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detector and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control space saving, and cost reduction of the power-supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on the amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of a charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging-bias power-supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output circuit capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and an AC detector for detecting an alternating current passing through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detector and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control space saving, and cost reduction of the power-supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member, contactably provided to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged; a voltage application device for applying alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages to the charging member; and a determination device for determining a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging member with respect to a second area of the member to be charged, on the basis of a peak-to-peak voltage corresponding to a minimum current which is not less than a predetermined current of alternating currents through the member to be charged when the alternating voltages having the different peak-to-peak voltages are applied to the charging member with respect to a first area of the member to be charged.

Abstract: After an application of a first AC voltage for selecting a peak-to-peak voltage of a charging AC voltage for charging an image forming area of an image bearing member and before an application of a charging AC voltage, there is applied a second AC voltage having a peak-to-peak voltage larger than a peak-to-peak voltage of the first AC voltage.

Abstract: A charging apparatus includes a charging member, contactably provided to a member to be charged, for charging the member to be charged; voltage application means for applying alternating voltages having different peak-to-peak voltages to the charging member; and determination means for determining a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging member with respect to a second area of the member to be charged, on the basis of a peak-to-peak voltage corresponding to a minimum current which is not less than a predetermined current of alternating currents through the member to be charged when the alternating voltages having the different peak-to-peak voltages are applied to the charging member with respect to a first area of the member to be charged.

Abstract: A memory medium is provided to a cartridge detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus. Into the memory medium, as information for performing charge control, information on an amount of usage of an image-bearing member and information on a charging alternating voltage (a threshold value for selection control of charging peak-to-peak voltage Vpp) are written. The image forming apparatus includes a charging bias power supply circuit, on its body side, including AC oscillation output means capable of outputting two or more species of alternating peak-to-peak voltages and AC detection means for detecting an alternating current through the image-bearing member. Charge control is performed on the basis of a detected value detected by the AC detection means and memory information for the cartridge, whereby good charge control and space saving and cost reduction of the power supply circuit are compatibly realized.

Abstract: A photosensitive member which can prevent occurrence of a streak image due to wear of a surface of the photosensitive member while preventing occurrence of image-flow is provided, and an average particle diameter of a scraped particle obtained from a surface of the photosensitive member by the rubbing of a cleaning member is 9.0 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: To provide an information processing apparatus for efficiently managing documents and various procedures relating to a patent application. Information relating to a patent application is accumulated in a database for each case, and managed for due date. When an inventor has to study a case, a request to study the case is issued to the inventor through a network, and the state of the study by the inventor is checked through the network. Furthermore, a case is transferred to request a third party to study the case, and the transfer of document data overseas is managed according to laws and regulations.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer bearing member for bearing and carrying developer to a developing area. A developer is borne on the developer bearing member, wherein the developer has a weight average particle size not exceeding 6.5 &mgr;m and contains an external additive of a charging polarity opposite to that of the developer. A voltage application device applies a voltage to the developer bearing member, wherein the voltage including at least a first voltage V1 for acting on the developer in a direction from the developer bearing member toward an image bearing member and a second voltage V2 for acting on the developer in a direction from an image bearing member toward said developer bearing member, and a charged potential VL of the image bearing member, a latent image potential VD a distance H between the developer bearing member and an image bearing member, and wherein the voltages V1 and V2 satisfy a following relationships: |V1−VL|/H≦3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a development density adjusting method in which development density is adjusted by varying ratio of application time of a voltage having the first voltage value to application time of a voltage having the second voltage value in one period, and difference between a potential of the developer bearing member and a potential of the electrostatic latent image, when the voltage having the first voltage value is applied to the developer bearing member.