Abstract: A beam having a base material of silicon monocrystal and at least one projection which is integrally formed so as to be supported at least at one end thereof and which has two surfaces having an orientation plane (111), includes a bottom surface in a plane which is common with a plane of the base material; a groove penetrating from the bottom surface to a top of the projection; and a protecting member having a resistance property against a crystal anisotropic etching liquid and covering an inner wall of the groove.

Abstract: An electric potential measuring apparatus including a substrate disposed facing a measurement object, a detecting electrode provided insulated from the substrate, and a capacity modulating unit for modulating a coupling capacity between the detecting electrode and the measurement object. In the electric potential measuring apparatus, a region with a dielectric constant less than a dielectric constant of the substrate is formed in the substrate to achieve an increase in resistivity of a portion of the substrate between detecting electrodes, or a decrease in a stray capacity between the detecting electrode and the substrate.

Abstract: A potential measuring apparatus has a detection electrode on which an electric charge is induced according to a potential of a detection object, and a modulator for altering the generated quantity of the electric charge. The detection electrode has at least one depressed portion on a surface opposite to the detection object.

Abstract: A potential measurement apparatus is provided which can suitably maintain the oscillation state of an oscillator including a detection electrode and stably measure the potential of a measurement object. The potential measurement apparatus includes a bearing part, an elastic supporting part supported by the bearing part, an oscillator movably supported by the elastic supporting part, detection electrodes installed in the oscillator, a drive mechanism driving the oscillator and a signal detection unit. The signal detection unit is connected to the detection electrodes to detect electrical signals appearing in the detected electrodes. A stress detecting element for generating an electric signal according to the stress of the elastic suspension part 142 is provided.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a mold for a microlens having a desired radius (R) of curvature by electroplating. In this method, a minimum radius (Rmin) of curvature is utilized to achieve the desired curvature radius.

Abstract: A potential measurement apparatus for measuring a surface potential of an object of measurement detects a change in electric charge induced at a detection electrode due to electrostatic induction by changing a distance between the detection electrode and the object of measurement in accordance with a predetermined period, using a neutral distance as reference, as a signal representing a change in electric current.

Abstract: An oscillating device includes an oscillator, an elastic supporting member for movably supporting the oscillator, a first supporting frame for supporting the elastic supporting member, and a second supporting frame extending along the elastic supporting member with a spacing maintained therebetween, the second supporting member extending from the first supporting frame, wherein the second supporting frame is provided in a cantilever shape relative to the first supporting frame.

Abstract: A potential sensor is provided in which the adhesion of toner particles to the potential sensor is reduced or prevented from occurring, reducing or preventing the occurrence of a situation that accurate detection cannot be performed. The potential sensor has a movable member, detecting electrodes formed on the movable member, a support which movably supports the movable member, a driving mechanism which drives the movable member, and a stationary member which supports the support. Between the movable member and the stationary member, a first gap is so formed as to make the movable member 101 movable. The first gap has a part that is not larger in width than the maximum size of toner particles when the movable member is not elastically deformed and is at a neutral position.

Abstract: Oscillating device including a movable member that is vibratable, a fixed section that is provided opposite to the movable member, a driving unit configured to drive the movable member, and at least two electrodes configured to generate a first signal corresponding to a drive state of the movable member. At least one electrode is provided on the movable member, and at least one electrode is provided on the fixed section. The driving unit can control the driving of the movable member on the basis of the first signal.

Abstract: A potential sensor including first and second detection electrodes opposed to an object of which a potential is to be measured, and a movable shutter so positioned between the detection electrodes and the potential-measured object with gaps thereto. The movable shutter can assume a first state and a second state. The first detection electrode is exposed to the potential-measured object wider when the movable shutter assumes the second state. The second detection electrode is exposed to the potential-measured object narrower when the movable shutter assumes the first state than when the movable shutter assumes the second state.

Abstract: A loss in the rigidity of a substrate for a liquid discharge head having nozzles at a high density can be suppressed. A liquid discharge head includes plural pressure generating chambers respectively provided with pressure generating elements, plural nozzle apertures respectively communicating with the plural pressure generating chambers and adapted to discharge a liquid, and a reservoir with which the plural pressure generating chambers commonly communicate respectively through communicating parts. The pressure generating chambers and the reservoir respectively have recessed portions formed respectively on one and the other of two principal planes of the same substrate, and the reservoir contains a portion shallower than a portion within the reservoir that communicates with the pressure generating chambers.

Abstract: A potential measuring device for measuring a potential of a measurement object, includes a detection electrode that faces the measurement object, a reference electrode disposed in a vicinity of the detection electrode that is electrostatically shielded by an electrostatic shield structure with respect to the measurement object, and capacitance modulator for modulating an electrostatic coupled capacitance between the detection electrode and the measurement object to measure a potential of the measurement object by using an electric signal generated on the detection electrode and an electric signal generated on the reference electrode.

Abstract: An electric potential measuring apparatus includes a movable portion having a detecting electrode and a magnetic force receiver, a magnetic force generator, an electric field shield, and a detector for detecting an amount of an electric charge which is electrostatically induced on the detecting electrode. The electric field shield transmits a magnetic field generated by the magnetic force generator to make it arrive at the magnetic force receiver but shields the detecting electrode from an electric field generated by the magnetic force generator to interrupt arrival to the detecting electrode and not to substantially obstruct the detection by the detector.

Abstract: An oscillator device includes an oscillator, a resilient support member configured to support the oscillator for oscillatory motion about an oscillation central axis, a magnetic member provided on the oscillator, and a magnetic-field generating member disposed opposed to the oscillator, wherein the oscillator has a through-hole extending through the oscillator from its top surface to its bottom surface, and wherein the magnetic member is provided in the through-hole.

Abstract: A potential measurement apparatus is provided which can suitably maintain the oscillation state of an oscillator including a detection electrode and stably measure the potential of a measurement object. The potential measurement apparatus includes a bearing part, an elastic supporting part supported by the bearing part, an oscillator movably supported by the elastic supporting part, detection electrodes installed in the oscillator, a drive mechanism driving the oscillator and a signal detection unit. The signal detection unit is connected to the detection electrodes to detect electrical signals appearing in the detected electrodes. A stress detecting element for generating an electric signal according to the stress of the elastic suspension part 142 is provided.

Abstract: A potential measuring apparatus has a detection electrode on which an electric charge is induced according to a potential of a detection object, and a modulator for altering the generated quantity of the electric charge. The detection electrode has at least one depressed portion on a surface opposite to the detection object.

Abstract: A potential measuring apparatus has a detection electrode on which an electric charge is induced according to a potential of a detection object, and a modulator for altering the generated quantity of the electric charge. The detection electrode has at least one depressed portion on a surface opposite to the detection object.

Abstract: A potential sensor is provided in which the adhesion of toner particles to the potential sensor is reduced or prevented from occurring, reducing or preventing the occurrence of a situation that accurate detection cannot be performed. The potential sensor has a movable member, detecting electrodes formed on the movable member, a support which movably supports the movable member, a driving mechanism which drives the movable member, and a stationary member which supports the support. Between the movable member and the stationary member, a first gap is so formed as to make the movable member 101 movable. The first gap has a part that is not larger in width than the maximum size of toner particles when the movable member is not elastically deformed and is at a neutral position.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus and method capable of reducing a measurement error in a measurement result of the surface potential of an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of an image bearing member. The measurement error occurs under the influence of an electric field generated from a pre-exposed area. Consequently, miniaturization of an image forming apparatus and consistent print quality can be achieved. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming control section for determining an error correction value corresponding to the charge state of a latent image on the basis of relationships between charge states of the latent image and error correction values which have been prepared in advance, computing an error corrected potential measurement value using the error correction value and a potential measurement value, and controlling the image forming apparatus on the basis of the error corrected potential measurement value.

Abstract: An electric potential measuring apparatus includes a detecting electrode, a modulator for changing an electrostatic capacitance between a measurement object and the detecting electrode by mechanical vibration, a charge detector for detecting the amount of charges electrostatically induced in the detecting electrode by the modulator, and a vibration generating-detecting unit for selectively performing either a vibration generating function of exciting the mechanical vibration, or a detecting function of detecting the condition of the mechanical vibration.