Abstract: A touch detecting apparatus includes an electrostatic sensor provided on an object; and a processor configured to detect whether a hand touches the object based on a capacitance measured by the electrostatic sensor. The processor is configured to, in response to the capacitance being greater than or equal to a first touch threshold, detect that the hand touches the object, and, for a second predetermined time from when a change amount of the capacitance during a first predetermined time becomes greater than or equal to a noise threshold, continue a state where a correction value has been added to the first touch threshold.

Abstract: Exemplary communication system 1 includes game devices 10, communication terminals 20, and game support server 30. Game devices 10 enable users to perform a multi-play activity. Each of communication terminals 20 runs an application associated with corresponding game device 10. Game support server 30 divides communication terminals 20 into separate communication groups in accordance with a situation of the multi-play activity performed by game devices 10 so that communication terminals 20 belonging to a same communication group can communicate with each other.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating member having a conductive layer and an exposed portion in which the conductive layer is partially exposed, and a roller including a metal core and an elastic portion, the roller forming a nip portion with the heating rotating member, the elastic portion being elastically deformed in a region where the nip portion is formed, wherein an annular conductive member provided in a longitudinal end portion of the metal core is in contact with the exposed portion of the heating rotating member while elastically deformed, and wherein in a state where the roller is not mounted to the fixing device, an outer diameter of the conductive member is smaller than an outer diameter of the elastic portion.

Abstract: A contact deciding apparatus includes: reference signal creating units that create first and second reference signals, with a sine wave, that have the same frequency as a detection signal output from a sensor unit, and are respectively in phase with and out of phase with the detection signal; a demodulation circuit that creates first and second demodulation signals by multiplying the detection signal respectively by the first and second reference signals; low-pass filters that extract first and second direct-current signals, which are respectively the direct-current components of the first and second demodulation signals; and a contact deciding unit that makes a decision about contact according to the first direct-current signal. The contact deciding unit decides that the connection state between the sensor unit and the detection circuit is abnormal when the first and second direct-current signals change in the same direction and normal when these signals change in opposite directions.

Abstract: A heater includes: a substrate; an insulating layer that is provided on the substrate; and a heat generating element that is provided on the insulating layer, and in a case where a region including a center of the substrate is defined as a first region, a region on a side closer to one end portion than the first region is defined as a second region, and a region on a side closer to the other end portion than the first region is defined as a third region in a transverse direction that is orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of a surface of the substrate on which the insulating layer is provided, the first region is a plane, and the second region and the third region are bent from the first region in a thickness direction of the substrate that is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction.

Abstract: A touch detecting apparatus includes an electrostatic sensor provided at an object; and a processor configured to detect whether a hand touches the object based on a capacitance measured by the electrostatic sensor. The processor is configured to, in response to the capacitance being greater than or equal to a first touch threshold, detect that the hand touches the object, and, for a second predetermined time from when a change amount of the capacitance during a first predetermined time becomes greater than or equal to a noise threshold, continue a state where a correction value has been added to the first touch threshold.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film with a tubular shape, a nip forming unit including a heater and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film. The heater includes a substrate made of metal. The fixing unit further includes a power supply connector electrically connected to the power supply electrode so that the power supply connector is connected to the heating element at a first end portion of the substrate in a longitudinal direction of the heater, and a pressing member opposed to the nip forming unit. The fixing unit further includes a voltage application circuit configured to apply a voltage of a same polarity as a normal charging polarity of the toner to the substrate, the voltage application circuit being connected to the substrate at a second end portion of the substrate opposite to the first end portion in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film with a tubular shape, a nip forming unit including a heater and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film, the heater including a substrate made of metal, an insulating layer formed on the substrate, and a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat when a first AC voltage is applied from an AC power supply connected thereto, a pressing member opposed to the nip forming unit with the film interposed therebetween and configured to form a nip portion with the film, and a voltage application circuit configured to apply a second AC voltage to the substrate with a waveform that takes a voltage value of an opposite polarity to the first AC voltage when the first AC voltage takes a peak value.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film with a tubular shape, a nip forming unit including a heater and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film, the heater including a substrate made of metal, an insulating layer formed on the substrate, and a heating element arranged on the insulating layer and configured to generate heat when applied first AC voltage from an AC power supply connected thereto, a pressing member opposed to the nip forming unit with the film interposed therebetween and configured to form a nip portion with the film, and a voltage application circuit configured to apply second AC voltage to the substrate with a waveform that takes a voltage value of an opposite polarity as the first AC voltage when the first AC voltage takes a peak value.

Abstract: A fixing unit includes a film with a tubular shape, a nip forming unit including a heater and configured to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the film. The heater includes a substrate made of metal. The fixing unit further includes a power supply connector electrically connected to the power supply electrode so that the power supply connector is connected to the heating element at a first end portion of the substrate in a longitudinal direction of the heater, and a pressing member opposed to the nip forming unit. The fixing unit further includes a voltage application circuit configured to apply a voltage of a same polarity as a normal charging polarity of the toner to the substrate, the voltage application circuit being connected to the substrate at a second end portion of the substrate opposite to the first end portion in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a thermal conductive member that is in contact with a heater and has a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of a base material of the heater, and a thermal-resistant member that is disposed between the thermal conductive member and a support member configured to support the heater, a thermal resistance in a thickness direction of the thermal-resistant member being higher than the thermal resistance in the thickness direction of the thermal conductive member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating member having a conductive layer and an exposed portion in which the conductive layer is partially exposed, and a roller including a metal core and an elastic portion, the roller forming a nip portion with the heating rotating member, the elastic portion being elastically deformed in a region where the nip portion is formed, wherein an annular conductive member provided in a longitudinal end portion of the metal core is in contact with the exposed portion of the heating rotating member while elastically deformed, and wherein in a state where the roller is not mounted to the fixing device, an outer diameter of the conductive member is smaller than an outer diameter of the elastic portion.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating rotating member having a conductive layer and an exposed portion in which the conductive layer is partially exposed, and a roller including a metal core and an elastic portion, the roller forming a nip portion with the heating rotating member, the elastic portion being elastically deformed in a region where the nip portion is formed, wherein an annular conductive member provided in a longitudinal end portion of the metal core is in contact with the exposed portion of the heating rotating member while elastically deformed, and wherein in a state where the roller is not mounted to the fixing device, an outer diameter of the conductive member is smaller than an outer diameter of the elastic portion.

Abstract: A pressure roller, and the pressure roller to be used in a fixing apparatus of in an image forming apparatus, the fixing apparatus configured to heat a toner image formed on a recording material and fix the toner image on the recording material, the pressure roller including a first elastic layer, and a second elastic layer provided on an outside of the first elastic layer, wherein a thermal conductivity of the first elastic layer is higher than a thermal conductivity of the second elastic layer, and wherein the first elastic layer contains a plurality of void portions, hole pathway portions joining the plurality of void portions to each other, and a needle-shaped high thermal conductive filler.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; an exposure portion configured to expose the photosensitive member to light depending on image information to form a latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing portion configured to develop the latent image into a toner image with toner; and a transfer portion configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a recording material. The image forming apparatus changes a surface movement speed of the photosensitive member at timing prior to predetermined timing, when a moving speed of a recording material at the transfer portion changes, by a predetermined time.

Abstract: Image data of an image formed on a recording material includes a plurality of picture elements. A predetermined number of picture elements which is a portion of the image data are converted as one region to thereby convert the image data to conversion data including a plurality of regions. A value related to a print ratio in each of the regions of the conversion data is analyzed to acquire a value related to connection indicating how continuously regions in which the value related to the print ratio exceeds a threshold are adjacent to each other. Energization of the heat generating element is controlled on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature detection portion and a control target temperature calculated from the value related to the connection.