Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus including a heating fixing portion and a host computer capable of instructing printing. In the image forming apparatus, throughput can be changed and discriminated in accordance with a printing number. For printing on small size sheets, the system is operable in a normal small size sheet mode and in a high speed small size sheet output mode, in which the printing is effected at a throughput which is higher than that in the normal small size sheet mode and, after completion of the printing, the image forming apparatus rests for a predetermined rest period. The host computer includes a mode selector for selecting a mode from the high speed small size sheet output mode and the normal small size sheet mode, and a controller for transmitting the mode selected by the mode selector to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pulse wave velocity measuring device includes a first sensor, a second sensor, a base body and a calculation unit. The first sensor is configured to sense a pulse wave propagating through an interior of a vessel. The second sensor is separated from the first sensor and is configured to sense the pulse wave. The base body is configured to hold the first sensor and the second sensor and regulate a distance between the first sensor and the second sensor. The calculation unit is configured to derive a difference between a time of the sensing of the pulse wave by the first sensor and a time of the sensing of the pulse wave by the second sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle control device where, the transmission apparatus is provided with a state in which the rotational driving force is not transmitted from the output member to the input member when a first engaging element is engaged; the vehicle control device is provided with a control unit that controls the transmission apparatus to engage the first engaging element by a hydraulic pressure from the electric pump for implementing the state in an idle stop state in which the vehicle is in a moving state and the engine is stopped; in a case where a travel speed of the vehicle is not greater than a predetermined release threshold value, the first engaging element is engaged by the hydraulic pressure from the electric pump; and in a case where the travel speed of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined release threshold value, all of the engaging elements are released.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method which can take a countermeasure against a tail or the like in consideration of differences of various conditions such as a kind of transfer paper and the like is provided. The apparatus has an image processing portion for extracting an image pattern whose image information has a concentration of 100% and executing a thin-out process for thinning out a predetermined area in the extracted image pattern at a predetermined ratio. The image processing portion or step changes the thin-out process according to the transfer paper kind.

Abstract: The task is accomplished by an image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus including a heating fixing portion and a host computer capable of instructing printing. In an image forming apparatus, a throughput can be changed and discriminated in accordance with a printing number, wherein for printing on a small size sheet, said system is operable in a normal small size sheet mode, and in a high speed small size sheet output mode in which the printing is effected at a throughput which is higher than in the normal small size sheet mode, and after completion of the printing, the image forming apparatus rests for a predetermined rest period, wherein said host computer includes a mode selector for selecting a mode from the high speed small size sheet output mode and the normal small size sheet mode, and a controller for transmitting the mode selected by said mode selector to said image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method which can take a countermeasure against a tail or the like in consideration of differences of various conditions such as a kind of transfer paper and the like is provided. The apparatus has an image processing portion for extracting an image pattern whose image information has a concentration of 100% and executing a thin-out process for thinning out a predetermined area in the extracted image pattern at a predetermined ratio. The image processing portion or step changes the thin-out process according to the transfer paper kind.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method which can take a countermeasure against a tail or the like in consideration of differences of various conditions such as a kind of transfer paper and the like is provided. The apparatus has an image processing portion for extracting an image pattern whose image information has a concentration of 100% and executing a thin-out process for thinning out a predetermined area in the extracted image pattern at a predetermined ratio. The image processing portion or step changes the thin-out process according to the transfer paper kind.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission apparatus configured such that when transitioning to an actual traveling state by forming one of the shift speeds from a free running state in which a vehicle is in a traveling state and the speed change mechanism is in a neutral state with none of the shift speeds formed, the control device performs a control to determine from the plurality of shift speeds one final target shift speed according to at least a vehicle speed and a driver request, and an intermediate target shift speed with a speed ratio smaller than that of the final target shift speed, and to form the final target shift speed after formation of the intermediate target shift speed.

Abstract: A control device for controlling a vehicle drive unit including an input member drivingly connected to an engine; an output member drivingly connected to a wheel; and a transmission device that includes engagement elements, that switches between shift speeds by control of engagement and disengagement of engagement elements, and that transmits a rotational driving force of the input member to the output member at a speed changed at a speed ratio of each of the shift speeds. The control device includes a control unit that controls the transmission device to achieve a one-way transmission speed in a running idle state in which a vehicle is running while the rotational driving force of the input member is not transmitted to the output member and a rotational speed of the engine is controlled to a predetermined idle speed.

Abstract: A position detecting method includes the steps of forming an image of a mark on a sensor, performing a first process that processes a raw signal obtained from the sensor with plural parameters, performing a second process that determines an edge of a signal processed by the first process for each parameter, determining a parameter from a result of the second process obtained for each parameter, and calculating a position of the mark based on a determined parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle control device for controlling a vehicle drive device that includes an input member that is drive coupled to an engine, an output member that is drive coupled to a wheel, and a transmission apparatus that has a plurality of engaging elements, that switches a plurality of shift speeds by controlling engaging and releasing of the plurality of the engaging elements, and that transmits to the output member a rotational driving force of the input member by shifting the rotational driving force at gear ratios of the plurality of the shift speeds.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic component comprising a connecting terminal part having a surface of an electroconductive base material and a germanium-containing nickel plating film provided on the surface. In the electronic component, the plating film provided on the surface of the electroconductive base material in the connecting terminal part possesses excellent heat resistance and solder wettability.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming part and a density calibration control part. The image forming part forms an image in any one of a plurality of image forming modes with respectively different processing speeds. The density calibration control part performs image density control for the image forming part in a state where any one of the plurality of image forming modes is applied. Herein, the density calibration control part makes a performing time interval for the image density control in a first image forming mode and a performing time interval for the image density control in a second image forming mode different from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method which can take a countermeasure against a tail or the like in consideration of differences of various conditions such as a kind of transfer paper and the like is provided. The apparatus has an image processing portion for extracting an image pattern whose image information has a concentration of 100% and executing a thin-out process for thinning out a predetermined area in the extracted image pattern at a predetermined ratio. The image processing portion or step changes the thin-out process according to the transfer paper kind.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus performs AGA measurement by using a predetermined sample shot group formed on a wafer, and decides an alignment parameter. The exposure apparatus executes wafer alignment processing and exposure processing by using the alignment parameter. The exposure apparatus notifies a central processing unit of AGA measurement results and the alignment parameter. An overlay inspection apparatus measures an actual exposure position on the exposed wafer, and notifies the central processing unit of the measurement result. The central processing unit optimizes alignment processing on the basis of the AGA measurement results, alignment parameter, and actually measured exposure position.

Abstract: A management apparatus which manages a parameter for an industrial device acquires AGA measurement results obtained by operating the industrial device with an operation job parameter value and non-operation job parameter value. An inspection apparatus acquires an “inspection result” obtained by inspecting the result of operating the industrial device in the operation job. A change in inspection result upon a change in parameter value is estimated on the basis of the AGA measurement result and inspection result. A variable which minimizes (extreme) both or at least one of the sensitivity (slope) of the inspection result upon a change in parameter value and variations (3?) in inspection result between objects to be processed (e.g., wafers) is set as an optimal parameter.

Abstract: There is provided a position detecting method for detecting a position of an object, on which an alignment mark including plural mark elements is formed. The method includes the steps of obtaining positional information indicative of each position of the plural mark elements, selecting positional information that has predetermined precision among plural pieces of positional information obtained by the obtaining step, and calculating the position of the object using the positional information that has the predetermined precision selected by the selecting step.

Abstract: It is to provide an improved method for preparation of microsphere from an emulsion wherein an organic phase containing an organic solvent having a boiling point lower than that of water and a hardly-water-soluble polymer is emulsified in an aqueous phase by an in-water drying method, which comprises: (1) using an apparatus equipped with a gas separation membrane; (2) supplying the emulsion to be subjected to in-water drying to one side of said gas separation membrane; (3) evaporating off the organic solvent contained in said emulsion to the other side of said gas separation membrane, which can remove the organic solvent with high efficiency and can be carried out in a closed system and hence is favorable from the environmental viewpoint.

Abstract: A position detecting method includes the steps of forming an image of a mark on a sensor, performing a first process that processes a raw signal obtained from the sensor with plural parameters, performing a second process that determines an edge of a signal processed by the first process for each parameter, determining a parameter from a result of the second process obtained for each parameter, and calculating a position of the mark based on a determined parameter.

Abstract: An exposure method for projecting a pattern formed on a reflection plate onto a substrate, via a projection optical system, using extreme ultraviolet light. The method includes a detection step of detecting a relative position between a second mark formed on a plate holding unit for holding the reflection plate and a third mark formed on the reflection plate. The detection step includes sub-steps of (i) detecting light reflected from the second mark with a detector, (ii) detecting light reflected from the third mark with the detector, and (iii) changing a relative position between the plate holding unit and the detector between sub-steps (i) and (ii).