Abstract: A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes: a plurality of heat elements that are to be heated by applying an electrical power; a printing controller that applies a first electrical power to heat elements not to be used for printing, the first electrical power depending on the number of heat elements not to be used for printing among the plurality of heat elements; and a thermal head that prints using the plurality of heat elements.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes: an air blowing unit that is configured to blow air toward a side face of stacked sheets being stacked with a plurality of sheets to separate the sheets by forming an air layer between the sheets; and a sheet pressing unit that is configured to apply a pressing force on the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheets while the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets, the pressing force having a downward component and a component in a direction along the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A sheet separating device includes: an air blowing unit that is configured to blow air toward a side face of stacked sheets being stacked with a plurality of sheets to separate the sheets by forming an air layer between the sheets; and a sheet pressing unit that is configured to apply a pressing force on the uppermost sheet in the stacked sheets while the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets, the pressing force having a downward component and a component in a direction along the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: A sheet material separating apparatus includes a sheet material separating unit. This unit includes a low frictional guide sheet making a surface contact with an upper surface of an uppermost one in stacked sheet materials, and a vibrator contacting a surface of the guide sheet opposite to another surface of the guide sheet contacting the upper surface of the uppermost sheet material. A length from a part of the surface of the guide sheet on which the vibrator contacts to any position on a peripheral edge of the surface is longer than one wavelength of an excited sound wave.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electrostatic actuator that can be easily assembled and suitably mass-produced and that can implement requirements of both the steady, smooth and stable operation and the enhanced reliability. The present invention is also directed to a method of activating such an electrostatic actuator, and a camera module used with the same.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, which records an image onto a recording medium by flying an ink-droplet from a surface of an ink by a pressure of ultrasonic beam, is characterized by comprising ultrasonic generating element array which has a plurality of ultrasonic elements arranged in array for emitting ultrasonic beams, driving means for applying a plurality of pulses having different phases each other to converging ultrasonic beams by interfering said plurality of ultrasonic beams with each other emitted from said ultrasonic generating elements of a part of said ultrasonic generating element array, which are simultaneously driven, with sequentially shifting said ultrasonic generating elements simultaneously driven to an array direction, and converging means for converging each of said plurality of ultrasonic beams in a direction of perpendicular to the array direction.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus records an image onto a recording medium by flying an ink-droplet from an ink surface by a pressure of an ultrasonic beam. The apparatus including an ultrasonic generating element array having a plurality of ultrasonic elements arranged in an array for emitting ultrasonic beams, a driving device for applying a plurality of pulses having different phases from each other, and a converging device for converging the ultrasonic beams by interfering the ultrasonic beams with each other. The generating elements are simultaneously driven and sequentially shifted in an array direction, and the converging device converging the ultrasonic beams in a direction perpendicular to the array direction.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording apparatus which includes a recording medium for carrying an electrostatic image, an ink-ejecting section opposing the recording medium and located in non-contact state with respect to the recording medium medium, and having an ink holding section for holding ink and an opening section for ejecting ink, at least one counter electrode located in the ink-ejecting section to be immersed in ink. The ink is ejected by virtue of an electric field between the electrostatic image formed on the recording medium and the counter electrode.