Abstract: In an embodiment of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a transfer belt that primarily transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum; a secondary transfer unit including a transfer mechanism portion that secondarily transfers the primarily transferred toner image to a paper; an optical sensor that detects a reference toner image on the transfer belt; and a shutter that protects a detection face of the optical sensor, wherein a separation/contact mechanism portion disposed so as to be brought into contact with both of the shutter and the secondary transfer unit is provided, and the separation/contact mechanism portion allows the shutter to move so as to open and allows the secondary transfer unit to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the reference toner image is detected by the optical sensor, and allows the shutter to move so as to separate from the transfer belt when the secondary transfer unit is drawn out from an apparatus main body.

Abstract: A transfer unit includes: an intermediate transfer belt that (i) holds a toner image that has been transferred from a photoreceptor drum and (ii) moves a surface holding the toner image; and a secondary transfer belt that comes into contact with the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer unit (i) transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt to a sheet conveyed to the secondary transfer part and (ii) includes a cleaning unit that removes and collects toner from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt. The transfer unit also includes a power source for sequentially applying, to the secondary transfer belt, (i) a first voltage for generating an electric field that transfers normally-charged toner from the secondary transfer belt to the intermediate transfer belt and (ii) a second voltage for generating an electric field that transfers oppositely-charged toner from the secondary transfer belt to the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting an object includes: a substrate; a transmission device for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; a plurality of reception devices for receiving the ultrasonic wave; and a circuit for processing received ultrasonic waves, which are received by the reception devices after the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission device is reflected by the object. The transmission device and the reception devices are integrated into the substrate. The dimensions of the sensor are minimized, and detection accuracy of the sensor is improved.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting an object includes: a substrate; a transmission device for transmitting an ultrasonic wave; a plurality of reception devices for receiving the ultrasonic wave; and a circuit for processing received ultrasonic waves, which are received by the reception devices after the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission device is reflected by the object. The transmission device and the reception devices are integrated into the substrate. The dimensions of the sensor are minimized, and detection accuracy of the sensor is improved.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a plurality of converters and a protection component. The plurality of converters convert one of a received ultrasonic wave into an electric signal and an electric signal into an ultrasonic wave for transmission. The plurality of converters are juxtaposed. The protection component protects each of the converters.

Abstract: An impedance sensor for detecting a mixing ratio of a liquid or a gas includes a substrate, at least a pair of electrodes, and a protective film. The substrate is configured to be disposed in the liquid or the gas. The pair of electrodes is disposed on the substrate. The protective film is disposed on the substrate so as to cover the pair of electrodes. The protective film is made of a material having a relative permittivity greater than or equal to 6.

Abstract: An infrared-type gas detector is provided with a Fabry-Perot filter through which infrared having a predetermined wavelength is selected to pass, a first detection unit for receiving the infrared having passed through the Fabry-Perot filter and outputting a detection signal corresponding to an absorption amount of the infrared, and a case member having a window portion through which the infrared passes and housing therein the first detection unit and the Fabry-Perot filter in an inner space of the case member. The case member has at least one ventilation portion through which the inner space of the case member is communicated with the exterior of the case member.

Abstract: An infrared gas detector includes an infrared light source for emitting infrared light, an infrared sensor for detecting the infrared light from the infrared light source, and a housing having a gas cell which accommodates the infrared light source and the infrared sensor. The internal surface of the gas cell is defined as an ellipsoidal surface. The positions of the infrared light source and the infrared sensor are respectively determined based on two different focal points of the ellipsoidal surface of the gas cell to efficiently focus the infrared light from the infrared light source on the infrared sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a sending element for sending an ultrasonic wave to an object to be detected, a receiving portion for receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object, an oscillating portion that oscillates by the ultrasonic wave transmitted thereto, and a supporting portion for holding an end part of the oscillating portion. The receiving portion is exposed to a space where the object exists. The receiving portion and the oscillating portion are connected through the supporting portion such that the ultrasonic wave received by the receiving portion is transmitted to the oscillating portion through the supporting portion. The oscillating portion is separate from the receiving portion by the supporting portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a molding resin layer and a semiconductor element encapsulated with the molding resin layer. The molding resin layer has an opening. A surface of the semiconductor element is partially exposed outside the molding resin layer through the opening. A groove is located in the surface of the semiconductor element around the opening of the molding resin layer. The groove is filled with the molding resin layer to produce anchor effect that enhances adhesive force of the molding resin layer to the surface of the semiconductor element around the opening.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor for detecting an object includes: a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric body and first and second electrodes for sandwiching the piezoelectric body; an acoustic matching element having a reception surface, which receives an ultrasonic wave reflected by the object; and a circuit electrically coupled with the piezoelectric element via a wire. The piezoelectric element is embedded in the acoustic matching element so that the acoustic matching element covers at least the first electrode, a part of a sidewall of the piezoelectric element and a part of the wire between the circuit and the piezoelectric element, and the sidewall of the piezoelectric element is adjacent to the first electrode.

Abstract: In a radar apparatus, a radar device emits a transmission wave to a periphery of a vehicle and detects a reflected wave of the transmission wave through a window part. As a member for restricting or reducing adhesion of dirt and foreign materials to the window part, an air duct is provided to apply air toward the window part. An air outlet portion of the air duct is open at a periphery of the window part and has a passage area smaller than that of an air inlet portion, which opens to a vehicle forward direction. While the vehicle is running, air is blown from the air outlet portion to flow along the window part at high speed after its pressure is increased in the air duct. Thus, dirt and materials adhering or adhered to the window part is effectively blown off.

Abstract: A conductive pattern basically has a substantially polygonal outline shape which is a polygon and can have a high peak value of the electromagnetic wave absorption amount as compared to a case when the conductive pattern has a circular outline shape. Thus, the conductive pattern is basically a polygon and at least one corner portion is shaped in curve. This reduces or even minimizes the shift of the frequency at which the absorption amount becomes a peak value by the polarization direction of the electromagnetic wave. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, it is possible to realize an electromagnetic absorber having an excellent electromagnetic wave absorption characteristic exhibiting a high peak value of the absorption amount of the electromagnetic wave and a small shift of frequency at which the absorption amount becomes a peak value by the polarization direction of the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A sensor attachment structure includes a sound receiving member for receiving an ultrasound, an ultrasonic sensor attached to the sound receiving member. The ultrasonic sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other and a substrate recess portion recessed from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate so as to form a membrane in the semiconductor substrate. Furthermore, a cap member is located between the sound receiving member and the semiconductor substrate to cover the second surface of the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the cap member has a first surface bonded to the sound receiving member, and a second surface that is bonded to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate at an outer periphery section of the membrane while having a gap between the cap member and the membrane.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a sending device and a receiving device. The sending device has a sending surface for sending an ultrasonic wave into a sending area. The receiving device has a receiving surface for receiving the ultrasonic wave reflected by an external object from a receiving area. The sending area has an overlapping area with the receiving area. The overlapping area is offset to one of the sending area and the receiving area.

Abstract: A collision detection device for a vehicle includes a first direction signal outputting unit which detects an intensity of heat ray radiated from a detection object which is near or contacts the vehicle to outputs a first direction signal, a second direction signal outputting unit which detects ultrasound wave sent by a sending member and reflected by the detection object to output a second direction signal, an impact signal outputting unit which detects an impact on the vehicle to output an impact signal, and a control unit. The control unit determines an occurrence of a collision between the vehicle and a human, in the case where it is determined that a difference between the first direction signal and the second direction signal is within a first predetermined range and the impact signal is outputted.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes an ultrasonic detector for detecting an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic matching member joined to the ultrasonic detector, a housing in which the ultrasonic detector and the acoustic matching member are accommodated, a vibration isolator located between the acoustic matching member and an inner side wall of the housing to damp an unwanted vibration from outside, and a cushion member located between the ultrasonic detector and an inner bottom wall of the housing to absorb external force applied to the ultrasonic sensor The cushion member is not in contact with the acoustic matching member.

Abstract: An optical gas sensing apparatus for sensing gas includes a tubular housing member, a column light source member, a column light sensing element member and an adhesive. The tubular housing member has a light-reflecting inner surface. The column light source member is provided to a first end portion of the housing member, wherein the light source member has a light source, which emits light. The column light sensing element member is provided to a second end portion of the housing member, wherein the light sensing element member has a light sensing element, which senses the light emitted by the light source. The adhesive connects the housing member to at least one of the light source member and the light sensing element member.

Abstract: An infrared gas sensing apparatus for sensing gas includes an infrared source for emitting infrared light, a wavelength tunable filter for selectively allows passage of the infrared light at a specific wavelength, an infrared detector for detecting the amount of the filtered infrared light, and a control circuit for controlling the wavelength tunable filter. The control circuit has a check circuit that checks whether the wavelength tunable filter selects a collect wavelength. The check circuit controls the wavelength tunable filter so that the wavelength tunable filter allows passage of the infrared light at a wavelength within a wavelength range where atmospheric gases do not absorb the infrared light. The check circuit checks whether the wavelength tunable filter operates normally by comparing the amount of the filtered infrared light with a reference value.

Abstract: A fluid sensor detects property of fluid by dipping the sensor in the fluid. The sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate; and a comb-teeth electrode made of a first diffusion layer and disposed on a first surface of the substrate. Although the comb-teeth electrode is capable of directly contacting the fluid without a protection film, corrosion resistance of the sensor against the fluid is improved. Further, since the sensor has no protection film, the sensor can detect the property accurately.