Abstract: A first unit and a second unit manage a plurality of devices (a first device), respectively. In addition, the first and second units, repeat to transmit a keep-alive packet and to confirm a response each other, and thus detect each other's malfunction. When the second unit malfunctions, the first unit detects the malfunction of the second unit and transmits a connection command to the connection unit. The connection unit connects a lower net Nia and a lower net Nib when receiving the connection command. Then, the first unit communicates with the first device as heretofore, and further communicates with a second device via the connection unit. Thus, even if a master unit malfunctions, the device management system can maintain to manage without stopping a management of a slave unit which had been managed by the master unit until then.

Abstract: A microporous plastic film roll production method, comprising the steps of: conveying microporous plastic film having through-holes in its interior by using a plurality of conveyance rollers at least one conveyance roller of which has a surface roughness RzJIS (?m) of 0.3?RzJIS?30 and has a surface made of fluorine resin, silicone rubber, or a composite material containing one of them; and winding it up in a roll.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; an image forming station; first and second detecting members for detecting widthwise positions of the belt member; first and second steering rollers for correcting the widthwise positions of the belt member by inclination; a control portion configured to control inclinations of the first and second steering rollers on the basis of an output of the first or second detecting member; a first executing portion configured to execute, in a period other than an image formation period, an operation in a correction mode of, in a state that the first steering roller is at a first reference inclination, controlling the second steering roller to correct a second reference inclination of the second steering roller; and a second executing portion configured to execute, in a period other than that of the correction mode operation, an operation in a control mode of controlling the first and second steering rollers on the basis of the first and second reference incl

Abstract: The relay device includes a first switch interposed between a first extraction unit and a second superimposing unit and a second switch interposed between a second extraction unit and a first superimposing unit. The first switch opens and closes a path where a superimposed signal is relayed from a first transmission path to a second transmission path. The second switch opens and closes a path where a superimposed signal is relayed from the second transmission path to the first transmission path. The first switch is controlled in response to reception of a first control signal to be turned off when a superimposed signal is relayed from the second transmission path to the first transmission path. The second switch is controlled in response to reception of a second control signal to be turned off when a superimposed signal is relayed from the first transmission path to the second transmission path.

Abstract: A communication system has a communication control unit, communication terminal units and communication units. The communication control unit and the communication terminal units communicate according to a first protocol. The communication units mutually communicate according to a second protocol. A specific communication unit of the communication units has a data analyzer and a data transmitter. The data analyzer judges whether or not second monitoring information represents a steady state. The data transmitter transmits the control information corresponding to the second monitoring information to at least one related second communication terminal unit through the communication control unit according to the first protocol if the second monitoring information represents an unsteady state. Thereby, the load connected to the second communication terminal unit is controlled.

Abstract: The communication system includes: first terminal devices connected to a transmission path and having terminal information; a second terminal device connected to the path and sending an information request requesting the information from the first terminal device; a first superimposing apparatus interposed between the first terminal device and the path; and a second superimposing apparatus interposed between the second terminal device and the path and receiving the request from the second terminal device. The first superimposing apparatus acquires the information from the connected first terminal device at predetermined timings and stores it. Upon receiving the request, the second superimposing apparatus sends the request to the first superimposing apparatus using a superimposed signal superimposed on a transmission signal transmitted via the path. Upon receiving the request, the first superimposing apparatus sends the information to the second superimposing apparatus using the superimposed signal.

Abstract: A signal transceiving section transmits a transmission signal to a transmission path, each frame in the transmission signal is divided into a plurality of periods in a time axis direction, and the plurality of periods includes superimposing period for superimposing a superimposed signal. A transmission unit includes a signal adjustment section for changing the proportion of the superimposing period in one frame of the transmission signal. The signal adjustment section adjusts the proportion of the superimposing period in accordance with a transmission state of the superimposed signal transmitted between second communication terminals. The signal adjustment section may adjust the proportion of the superimposing period so that the proportion of the superimposing period in one frame of the transmission signal increase with increasing the volume of transmission data transmitted between the second communication terminals through the superimposed signal.

Abstract: A checker array print head is able to output an image with possible white or black stripes made unnoticeable even when the conveyance direction of a print medium with respect to the ink jet print head is skewed. A first chip located on an upstream side in a conveyance direction (X direction) and a second chip located on a downstream side in the conveyance direction are arranged such that a dot printed via the first chip and a dot printed via the second chip are printed at intervals shorter than a print resolution in an ejection port arrangement direction (Y direction). Thus, even if the conveyance direction of the print medium is skewed by meandering thereof or the like, possible white stripes, which are particularly noticeable, can be inhibited.

Abstract: A recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a plurality of recording heads include a conveying roller that conveys the recording medium that is continuously fed; the plurality of recording heads arranged in the conveying direction of the conveying roller; a skew sensor that detects the amount of displacement of the position of the recording medium skewed in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying direction relative to the recording heads when the recording medium is skewed with respect to the conveying direction; and an angle adjusting mechanism that rotates the recording heads relative to the recording medium on the basis of the amount of displacement detected by the skew sensor.

Abstract: A communication terminal is provided with: first and second transmission units transmitting signals on a communication line, first and second receiving units receiving signals from another communication terminal; and a communication method switching unit switching the signal communication method. The first transmission unit transmits an electrical current signal to the communication line. The first receiving unit receives a voltage signal obtained by converting, by means of a current/voltage conversion unit, the electrical current signal transmitted from the first transmission unit. The second transmission unit transmits a communication signal to the communication line as a voltage signal. The second receiving unit receives the voltage signal transmitted from the second transmission unit.

Abstract: A communication device 1 has a first protocol analysis section 11 that analyzes a status of a transmission signal Vs received at a transmission signal receiver 10. A transmission controller 14 determines a communication available period and a communication unavailable period based upon the analysis result. When the communication available period is determined, the transmission controller 14 allows a second protocol signal transmitter 12 to transmit a packet in accordance with a second protocol to a signal line Ls. With this result, it is possible to transmit a relatively large amount of data while suppressing noise influence caused by a varying condition of a carrier, in contrast to a prior system in which the transmission signal is superimposed only by a simple determination of the carrier condition. Thus, it is possible to share the signal line Ls with the time-division multiplexing transmission system and improve reliability of data transmission.

Abstract: Provided is a bit interleaved coded modulation-iterative decoding (BICM-ID) technique suffering a small loss in a transfer rate. A BICM-ID technique allowing a decoder to treat a small processing quantity is also provided. Encoding is carried out according to a code based on an iterative code. Encoded bits are reordered during interleaving processing, subjected to multi-valued modulation through extended mapping, and then transmitted. The extended mapping includes number-of-bits thinning processing of thinning l bits into m bits (m<l), and non-gray mapping. During the number-of-bits thinning processing, at least one of a predetermined number of bits is determined with only one of interleaved bits.

Abstract: A first relay (30) and a plurality of second relays (40) are interposed between a data collection device (10) and a plurality of monitoring terminals (20). The first relay (30) is connected to the data collection device (10). The plurality of the second relays (40) is connected to the first relay (30). Each of the second relays (40) is connected to a plurality of the monitoring terminals (20). The data collection device (10) and the first relay (30) are communicated with each other according to a main protocol as in the past. The second relay (40) and the monitoring terminal (20) are communicated with each other according to the main protocol. By contrast, the first relay (30) and the second relay (40) are communicated with each other according to an auxiliary protocol different from the main protocol.

Abstract: A seat locking device includes a striker and a catching section. The catching section includes a base plate including a first entrance concave portion, a cover member including a second entrance concave portion, a latch, a lock plate, and a bumper rubber including a substantially isosceles-triangle portion. A lateral surface of a holding concave portion of the latch is inclined such that an opening side of the lateral surface is located closer to a bottom surface of the first entrance concave portion than its counter-opening side. A bottom surface of the holding concave portion is closer to an imaginary center line of the first entrance concave portion than one lateral surface of the first entrance concave portion so that a catching-capable dimension for the striker is set between the bottom surface of the holding concave portion and another lateral surface of the first entrance concave portion.

Abstract: A DC power distribution system for supplying a DC power into a building, includes one or more power feeding devices which supply a DC power, a power feeding line for supplying the DC power supplied from the power feeding devices to various sites in the building and sockets located at the various sites and connected to the power feeding line. The DC power distribution system further includes a portable power feeding device which supplies a generated or stored DC power thereof to the power feeding line via a plug which is removably connected to one of the sockets.

Abstract: A transmitting circuit is connected to a communication line and configured to transmit a primary signal, being a current signal, to the communication line by changing a current flowing from a transmission unit via the communication line. A receiving circuit is configured to receive a secondary signal which is generated by converting the primary signal transmitted from the transmitting circuit to a voltage signal by a current/voltage converter provided between the transmission unit and the communication line. Specifically, the primary signal, being a current signal transmitted from a communication terminal, is converted to the secondary signal being a voltage signal by the current/voltage converter. As a result, communication can be performed even when the impedance of the communication line is reduced, facilitating introduction of a communication system.

Abstract: A sheet-material transporting device includes a transporting belt configured to attract a sheet material and transport the sheet material along a transporting direction, the transporting belt including a plurality of electrodes arranged at predetermined intervals along the transporting direction, wherein the electrodes are sized and shaped extending in a direction intersecting the transporting direction; a pressing roller configured to press the sheet material against an attraction starting position of the transporting belt; and a charging unit configured to apply a voltage to the electrodes. The sheet-material transporting device is characterized in that the sheet material is attracted to the transporting belt after the leading edge of the sheet material is pressed against the transporting belt by the pressing roller, or the charging unit is configured such that the voltage is not applied upstream of a nip of the pressing roller in the transporting direction.

Abstract: In an ink jet printing apparatus using a plurality of printing heads arranged in a convey direction of a printing medium, an inclination angle of the printing medium to a predetermined convey direction is detected to adjust, in accordance with the resultant inclination angle, timings at which ink is jetted from the plurality of printing heads. This allows, even when the printing medium being subjected to a printing operation has a slight meander shape, an image to be formed on a printing medium so that printing positions of the plurality of printing heads have no dislocation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a belt member; a first drum for bearing a toner image to be transferred onto the belt member; a second drum, provided downstream of the first drum with respect to a rotational direction of the belt member, for bearing a toner image to be transferred onto the belt member; a first steering portion, provided upstream of the first drum with respect to the rotational direction of the belt member, for controlling a widthwise position of the belt member; and a second steering portion, provided downstream of the second drum with respect to the rotational direction of the belt member, for controlling the widthwise position of the belt member with a delay of a movement time of the belt member from the first drum to the second drum.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless relay apparatus for replaying a signal processed by first encoding from a transmitting apparatus to a receiving apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a demodulation unit, a decoding unit, a detection unit, an extraction unit, and an encoding unit. The demodulation unit demodulates a received signal. The decoding unit performs error correction decoding corresponding to the first encoding on the demodulated signal. The detection unit detects an error in a decoded signal. The extraction unit extracts a portion pertaining to information data from the demodulated signal by hard decision, if the detection unit detects an error. The encoding unit performs error correcting coding on the extracted portion pertaining to the information data with an error. The information data encoded by the encoding unit is transmitted.