Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a switching unit configured to switch a power supply source from a main power source to a power storage unit according to shifting to a power failure state, a calculation unit configured to calculate a power amount to be consumed by a received job if the power supply source is the power storage unit when the job is received, a detection unit configured to detect a power amount stored in the power storage unit, a determining unit configured to determine whether the received job can be executed based on the detected power amount and the calculated power amount to be consumed for the received job, and a control unit configured to start processing the job if it is determined that the received job can be executed and to perform control during the processing of the job so as not to accept a subsequently received job.

Abstract: There is provided an optically-compensatory sheet including, at least one optically anisotropic layer containing a discotic liquid crystalline compound on a transparent support, wherein the optically anisotropic layer contains a boronic acid compound represented by the following Formula (I): wherein, each of R1 and R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aryl group or a hetero cyclic group, and R1 and R2 may be linked to each other to form a ring, and R3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted, a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic hydrocarbon group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical compensation film comprises a liquid crystal layer application step (10) of applying a liquid crystal layer coating solution containing a liquid crystal compound to an alignment layer on a surface of a transparent substrate (4c) that is continuously transported; a liquid crystal layer drying step (11) of drying the liquid crystal layer; a cooling and curing step of curing the liquid crystal layer while cooling the liquid crystal layer to a temperature lower than a drying temperature used in the drying step; and a heating and curing step of curing the alignment layer while heating the alignment layer to a temperature higher than a cooling temperature used in the cooling and curing step. The process enables the durability and damage resistance as well as the optical characteristics of the optical compensation film to be independently controlled.

Abstract: A focus adjusting apparatus employable for an imaging system with an image-capturing unit configured to capture an image of an object, includes a unit configured to extract a specific frequency component from an image capturing signal along each horizontal scanning line to generate a focus signal and a unit configured to set a focus signal extraction area with reference to the image capturing signal. A peak holding unit extracts a line peak value by peak-holding the focus signal along each horizontal scanning line in the setting area. A first evaluation value generation unit generates an integral evaluation value by integrating line peak values obtained along a predetermined number of horizontal scanning lines of all the horizontal scanning lines in the setting area. A control unit performs a focus adjustment that includes driving a focus lens based on an AF evaluation value derived from the integral evaluation value.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell and at least three optically-anisotropic layers disposed on each side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein they are combined so that the ?nd value of the liquid-crystal cell and the optical characteristics of the optically-anisotropic layers can satisfy predetermined relationships, is disclosed.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1), ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm, is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (2), ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm, is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Re1 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Re2 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1) is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm??Relationship (1) wherein Relationship (2) is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, and ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (2) wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at an RH of 80%)—Re1 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at an RH of 80%)—Re2 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A retardation film comprising a transparent support, disposed on a surface thereof, an alignment layer and an optically anisotropic layer is disclosed. The transparent support and the optically anisotropic layer satisfy following relations: Re(DLC)<60 nm??(1) (?0.5)×Re(TS)+40?Re(DLC)?(?0.5)×Re(TS)+80??(2) 0.5×Rth(TS)?10?Re(DLC)?0.5×Rth(TS)+30??(3) where Re(DLC) indicates retardation in plane of the optically anisotropic layer; Re(TS) indicates retardation in plane of the transparent support; and Rth(TS) indicates retardation along the thickness direction of the transparent support.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Rth1 of the first optical anisotropic layer, and Rth2 of the second optical anisotropic layer satisfy one of Relationships (1) and (2), and ?Rth1?0 nm and ?Rth2?0 nm ??(1) ?Rth1<0 nm and ?Rth2>0 nm ??(2) wherein a retardation value Rth of the laminated optical film as a whole in its thickness direction satisfies 50 nm?Rth?500 nm, where ?Rth1 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Rth1 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Rth2 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Rth2 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display which includes: a liquid crystal cell containing a pair of transparent substrates and a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules, sandwiched between the pair of the transparent substrates; and a polarizing plate, disposed on an outside of each transparent plate, and comprising at least a polarizer and an optical film containing at least first, second and third optical anisotropic layers, wherein the liquid crystal display device satisfies the following conditions (1) to (7).

Abstract: A process for producing an optical compensation film comprises a liquid crystal layer application step (10) of applying a liquid crystal layer coating solution containing a liquid crystal compound to an alignment layer on a surface of a transparent substrate (4c) that is continuously transported; a liquid crystal layer drying step (11) of drying the liquid crystal layer; a cooling and curing step of curing the liquid crystal layer while cooling the liquid crystal layer to a temperature lower than a drying temperature used in the drying step; and a heating and curing step of curing the alignment layer while heating the alignment layer to a temperature higher than a cooling temperature used in the cooling and curing step. The process enables the durability and damage resistance as well as the optical characteristics of the optical compensation film to be independently controlled.

Abstract: A method for determining potential for body odor and a method for determining the effectiveness of a deodorant carried out by detecting a substance represented by the following formula (1) or a derivative thereof: wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R3 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell and at least three optically-anisotropic layers disposed on each side of the liquid crystal cell, wherein they are combined so that the ?nd value of the liquid-crystal cell and the optical characteristics of the optically-anisotropic layers can satisfy predetermined relationships, is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining potential for body odor and a method for determining the effectiveness of a deodorant carried out by detecting a substance represented by the following formula (1) or a derivative thereof: wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R3 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Abstract: A method for determining potential for body odor and a method for determining the effectiveness of a deodorant carried out by detecting a substance represented by the following formula (1) or a derivative thereof: wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R3 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Abstract: A polarizing plate comprising a polarizer, and a cycloolefin polymer film having a surface bonded to at least one surface of the polarizer, the surface of the cycloolefin polymer film having a mean surface roughness Ra falling within the range from 10 nm to 200 nm, and a shrinkage ratio of the polarizer, after being allowed to stand in an atmosphere at 105° C. for 10 hours, being equal to or smaller than 20% in the direction of transmission axis thereof, is disclosed.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Rth1 of the first optical anisotropic layer, and Rth2 of the second optical anisotropic layer satisfy one of Relationships (1) and (2), and ?Rth1?0 nm and ?Rth2?0 nm ??(1) ?Rth1<0 nm and ?Rth2>0 nm ??(2) wherein a retardation value Rth of the laminated optical film as a whole in its thickness direction satisfies 50 nm?Rth?500 nm, where ?Rth1 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)—Rth1 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Rth2 denotes a value obtained by calculating the expression Rth2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)—Rth2 (at a temperature of 25° C.) concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1) is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (1) wherein Relationship (2) is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, and ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (2) wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at an RH of 80%)—Re1 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at an RH of 80%)—Re2 (at an RH of 50%)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1) is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, ?10 nm??Re1??Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (1) wherein Relationship (2) is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, and ?10 nm??Re1+?Re2?10 nm ??Relationship (2) wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm?Re?500 nm, where ?Re1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Re1 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ?Re2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)?Re2 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal display which includes: a liquid crystal cell containing a pair of transparent substrates and a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules, sandwiched between the pair of the transparent substrates; and a polarizing plate, disposed on an outside of each transparent plate, and comprising at least a polarizer and an optical film containing at least first, second and third optical anisotropic layers, wherein the liquid crystal display device satisfies the following conditions (1) to (7).