Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes an equalizer circuit and a toggle detection circuit. The equalizer circuit is configured to amplify an input signal that are externally input to output an amplified signal as a first signal. The toggle detection circuit is configured to detect toggling of the first signal and to dynamically switch a gain of the equalizer circuit based on whether or not toggling of the first signal is detected.

Abstract: Provided is an air-drying type water-borne paint composition including a water-borne resin (A) and an emulsion (B) of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content ratio of 5 to 50% by mass, wherein a content of the ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer is 5 to 50% by mass, relative to a resin solid content in the air-drying type water-borne paint composition. The air-drying type water-borne paint composition may be a two-pack water-borne paint composition including a first agent containing the water-borne resin (A) and a second solution containing a curing agent (C).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for bearing a toner image, a rotatable endless belt, a first driving member for rotationally driving the endless belt and in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the endless belt, and a second driving member for rotationally driving the endless belt and in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the endless belt. In addition, a tension detecting unit detects a state of tension of the endless belt and a controller controls a rotational speed of the second driving member. A driving force applied from the second driving member to the endless belt is smaller than a driving force applied from the first driving member to the endless belt, and the tension detecting unit includes a metal roller contacting the inner peripheral surface of the endless belt and detects the tension by movement of the metal roller which follows the endless belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an endless belt; a first driver for driving the belt in contact to an inner surface of the belt; a second driver for driving the belt in contact to an outer surface of the belt; and a tension detector for detecting a state of tension of the belt. The tension detector includes: a movable device, contacted to the belt in a region downstream of the second driver and upstream of the first driver and in a region upstream of the second driver and downstream of the first driver with respect to a rotational direction of the belt, capable of moving its position depending on the tension of the belt in the two regions; a member-to-be-detected capable of changing its position in interrelation with the movement of the movable device; and a detecting device for detecting the member-to-be-detected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a rotatable endless belt; a first driving member for driving the belt in contact to an inner surface of the belt; a second driving member for driving the belt in contact to an outer surface of the belt; a tension detecting unit for detecting a state of tension of the belt; and a controller for controlling a rotational speed of the second driving member. A driving force applied from the second driving member to the belt is smaller than a driving force applied from the first driving member to the belt. The controller controls, on the basis of a detection result of the tension detecting unit, the rotational speed of the second driving member so that the state of tension of the belt is a predetermined state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; an endless belt; a first driver for driving the belt in contact to an inner surface of the belt; a second driver for driving the belt in contact to an outer surface of the belt; and a tension detector for detecting a state of tension of the belt. The tension detector includes: a movable device, contacted to the belt in a region downstream of the second driver and upstream of the first driver and in a region upstream of the second driver and downstream of the first driver with respect to a rotational direction of the belt, capable of moving its position depending on the tension of the belt in the two regions; a member-to-be-detected capable of changing its position in interrelation with the movement of the movable device; and a detecting device for detecting the member-to-be-detected.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a target circuit of a low power consumption mode having at least one flip-flop circuit to which a clock signal is supplied in a normal operation mode and in a low power consumption mode, and a logic circuit to which each output of the at least one flip-flop circuit is input, wherein each of the flip-flop circuits includes a selector that selects a normal data signal in the normal operation mode, selects an inverted output of the flip-flop circuit in the low power consumption mode, based on an operation-mode switching signal that designates switching between the normal operation mode and the low power consumption mode, and inputs the selected signal to a data input terminal of the flip-flop circuit.

Abstract: A multilayer interconnect configuration is formed on a semiconductor substrate where a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided. Each layer of the multilayer interconnect configuration has a plurality of pads. Except for the pads of the top layer, the area of the pads is reduced relative to the pads of the top layer. The pad area is reduced by forming a plurality of openings in the pads, or by forming a plurality of notches in the pads whereby the pads have a comb configuration. The capacitance can be significantly reduced by decreasing the area. The reduction of capacitance allows for significantly reducing the effect of a low-pass filter produced from the interconnect metal resistance and the pad capacitance, which slows down the circuit operation. Therefore the high-speed operation can avoid degradation.

Abstract: A circuit for discriminating a ‘Noisy’ state of an output of a squelch circuit is disclosed. A circuit for resolve the ‘Noisy’ state of the output of the squelch circuit is also disclosed which uses the output identification circuit. The output of the squelch circuit and a clear signal are input into a first AND gate. The output of the first AND gate is input into a first flip-flop. An inversed signal of the output of the first AND gate is input into a second flip-flop. The outputs of the first and second flip-flops are input into a discriminating unit including a second AND gate. The ‘Noisy’ state is identified by the output of the second AND gate. Based on the identification result, sensitivity of the squelch circuit is regulated.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a target circuit of a low power consumption mode having at least one flip-flop circuit to which a clock signal is supplied in a normal operation mode and in a low power consumption mode, and a logic circuit to which each output of the at least one flip-flop circuit is input, wherein each of the flip-flop circuits includes a selector that selects a normal data signal in the normal operation mode, selects an inverted output of the flip-flop circuit in the low power consumption mode, based on an operation-mode switching signal that designates switching between the normal operation mode and the low power consumption mode, and inputs the selected signal to a data input terminal of the flip-flop circuit.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.

Abstract: A circuit for discriminating a ‘Noisy’ state of an output of a squelch circuit is disclosed. A circuit for resolve the ‘Noisy’ state of the output of the squelch circuit is also disclosed which uses the output identification circuit. The output of the squelch circuit and a clear signal are input into a first AND gate. The output of the first AND gate is input into a first flip-flop. An inversed signal of the output of the first AND gate is input into a second flip-flop. The outputs of the first and second flip-flops are input into a discriminating unit including a second AND gate. The ‘Noisy’ state is identified by the output of the second AND gate. Based on the identification result, sensitivity of the squelch circuit is regulated.

Abstract: A multilayer interconnect configuration is formed on a semiconductor substrate where a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided. Each layer of the multilayer interconnect configuration has a plurality of pads. Except for the pads of the top layer, the area of the pads is reduced relative to the pads of the top layer. The pad area is reduced by forming a plurality of openings in the pads, or by forming a plurality of notches in the pads whereby the pads have a comb configuration. The capacitance can be significantly reduced by decreasing the area. The reduction of capacitance allows for significantly reducing the effect of a low-pass filter produced from the interconnect metal resistance and the pad capacitance, which slows down the circuit operation. Therefore the high-speed operation can avoid degradation.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first motor for driving said image bearing member, a fixing unit which fixes an image transferred from said image bearing member to a recording material onto the recording material and a second motor for driving said fixing unit, wherein said fixing unit is started up by said first motor and then driven by said second motor. Thereby, costs on the second motor for driving the fixing apparatus, which is disposed separately from the first motor for driving the image forming apparatus, can be restrained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separation member in contact with a sheet for separating the sheet with frictional force, comprising plurality of protrusion members, each structured of a supporting portion upright from an operation surface for the sheet and a distal end portion formed at a distal end of the supporting portion capable of contacting to the sheet. The supporting portion of the protrusion member is inclined toward a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the operation surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A sliding bearing for an internal combustion engine including a copper-based bearing alloy including silver and tin upon which an overlay is applied. The overlay comprises resin and MoS2, and the adherence of the overlay to the alloy is enhanced by a roughened alloy surface formed of grooves extending in the sliding direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separation member in contact with a sheet for separating the sheet with frictional force, comprising plurality of protrusion members, each structured of a supporting portion upright from an operation surface for the sheet and a distal end portion formed at a distal end of the supporting portion capable of contacting to the sheet. The supporting portion of the protrusion member is inclined toward a downstream side in a sheet feeding direction with respect to a direction perpendicular to the operation surface of the sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an exfoliated graphite/phenol resin composite foam of a porosity of 50-95%, a density of 0.1-0.8 g/cm3, by forming under contact pressure or reduced pressure at a temperature of 140-200° C. a mixture comprising 100 parts by weight of powdered and/or crushed exfoliated graphite and 40-240 parts by weight of phenol resin; an exfoliated graphite/phenol resin composite foam obtained by the method; and a method of obtaining an exfoliated graphite/glassy carbon composite foam of a porosity of 50-95%, a density 0.1-0.8 g/cm3 with volumetric baking shrinkage of 10% or less by baking the exfoliated graphite/phenol resin composite foam.