Abstract: A power generation element of inverse magnetostrictive type has: a first power generation part including a first magnetostrictive rod made of magnetostrictive material, a first coil wound around the first magnetostrictive rod, and a first magnetic rod having appropriate rigidity and a shape to apply a uniform compressive force or tensile force to the first magnetostrictive rod and being placed in parallel with the first magnetostrictive rod; a frame made of magnetic material bent in a substantially U shape, whose one end and other end across the bent location constitute a fixed end and free end, respectively; and a magnet. The power generation element can suppress the loss of kinetic energy while vibrating so that vibration will last long. The power generation element can be used in an actuator.

Abstract: Methods for producing a transition-metal-coated carbon material having a transition metal coating which has a high adhesion strength between the transition metal and the carbon material, and which is neither exfoliated nor detached in subsequent processing are provided. The transition-metal-coated carbon material may be obtained by adhering a compound containing transition metal ions onto a surface of a carbon material and by reducing the transition metal ions with carbon in the carbon material by a heat treatment, thereby to form elemental transition metal. Here, the transition metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu or Zn. Moreover, also provided is a carbon-metal composite material exhibiting an excellent mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, by improving affinity with a metal such as aluminium by use of the transition-metal-coated carbon material.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image forming section; a fixing device; an input section; a storage section which stores a target temperature of the fixing device in a case of carrying out the fixing processing and a target temperature of the fixing device in a case of carrying out the erasing processing; and a control section which controls to read out lower one of the target temperature of the fixation and the target temperature of the erasure from the storage section to set the lower one to the target temperature of the fixing device in a case in which the processing information of the fixing processing and the erasing processing is input by the input section and the processing is continuously carried out, and drive the fixing device via the driving section at a driving speed corresponding to each of the fixing processing and the erasing processing.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes: a magnetostrictive plate including a magnetostrictive material; a yoke around which a coil is wound and which has two ends magnetically connected to a surface of the magnetostrictive plate; and a bias magnet that generates bias magnetic flux circulating from one of the two ends of the yoke to the other one of the two ends through the yoke. Here, the magnetostrictive plate is surface-bonded to a non-magnetic structural body.

Abstract: A power generation switch includes: parallel beams including at least one magnetostrictive rod made of a beam-shaped magnetostrictive material; a coil wound around the rod; a first connecting part connecting two beams in the parallel beams together, at first ends of the parallel beams; a second connecting part connecting the two beams together at second ends of the parallel beams; a field part that produces magnetic flux to pass through the two beams in the same direction; and an operating part operable by a user. The first connecting part is a non-displaced fixed end. The second connecting part is a free end for free oscillation. The operating part applies external force to the second connecting part to cause free oscillation of the parallel beams, thereby causing a positive axial force in one of the two beams and a negative axial force in the other one of the two beams.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor obtains information regarding reuse of a sheet. The controller controls a heating temperature of a fixer such that a target fixing temperature becomes a fixing temperature corresponding to the information regarding the reuse to be obtained by the sensor.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor obtains information regarding reuse of a sheet. The controller controls a heating temperature of a fixer such that a target fixing temperature becomes a fixing temperature corresponding to the information regarding the reuse to be obtained by the sensor.

Abstract: An earphone comprises: a magnetostrictive element which is composed of a magnetostrictive material and has a column-like shape, the magnetostrictive element expanding and contracting due to magnetostrictive effect; a coil wound around the magnetostrictive element, the coil converting an electrical signal into a change in magnetic field; and an elastic portion which is composed of an elastic body having magnetism, the elastic portion including: a first elastic portion to which one of ends of the magnetostrictive element is joined; a second elastic portion to which the other end of the magnetostrictive element is joined; and a beam portion having a column-like shape and being provided in parallel to the magnetostrictive element between the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion and being integrally formed with the first elastic portion and the second elastic portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes: a magnetostrictive plate including a magnetostrictive material; a yoke around which a coil is wound and which has two ends magnetically connected to a surface of the magnetostrictive plate; and a bias magnet that generates bias magnetic flux circulating from one of the two ends of the yoke to the other one of the two ends through the yoke. Here, the magnetostrictive plate is surface-bonded to a non-magnetic structural body.

Abstract: A power generation element includes: a first nnagnetostrictive rod made of a nnagnetostrictive material; a rigid rod made of a magnetic material and disposed in parallel with the first nnagnetostrictive rod, the magnetic material having rigidity and a shape that enable uniform application of a compression or tensile force to the first nnagnetostrictive rod; a first coil wound around the first nnagnetostrictive rod; and two connecting yokes, each of which is provided at one end of each of the first nnagnetostrictive rod and the rigid rod to connect the first nnagnetostrictive rod and the rigid rod; wherein the power generation element generates power through expansion or contraction of the first nnagnetostrictive rod due to vibration in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the first nnagnetostrictive rod.

Abstract: A power generation switch includes: parallel beams including at least one magnetostrictive rod made of a beam-shaped magnetostrictive material; a coil wound around the rod; a first connecting part connecting two beams in the parallel beams together, at first ends of the parallel beams; a second connecting part connecting the two beams together at second ends of the parallel beams; a field part that produces magnetic flux to pass through the two beams in the same direction; and an operating part operable by a user. The first connecting part is a non-displaced fixed end. The second connecting part is a free end for free oscillation. The operating part applies external force to the second connecting part to cause free oscillation of the parallel beams, thereby causing a positive axial force in one of the two beams and a negative axial force in the other one of the two beams.

Abstract: Methods for producing a transition-metal-coated carbon material having a transition metal coating which has a high adhesion strength between the transition metal and the carbon material, and which is neither exfoliated nor detached in subsequent processing are provided. The transition-metal-coated carbon material may be obtained by adhering a compound containing transition metal ions onto a surface of a carbon material and by reducing the transition metal ions with carbon in the carbon material by a heat treatment, thereby to form elemental transition metal. Here, the transition metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu or Zn. Moreover, also provided is a carbon-metal composite material exhibiting an excellent mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, by improving affinity with a metal such as aluminium by use of the transition-metal-coated carbon material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal-graphite composite material favorable to two-dimensional diffusion of heat and having a high thermal conductivity in two axial directions, and a production method therefor. The metal-graphite composite material of the present invention includes: 20 to 80% by volume of a scaly graphite powder; and a matrix selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum and alloys thereof, wherein the scaly graphite powder in which a normal vector to a scaly surface thereof is tilted at 20° or higher with respect to a normal vector to a readily heat-conducting surface of the metal-graphite composite material is 15% or less relative to a whole amount of the scaly graphite powder, and the metal-graphite composite material has a relative density of 95% or higher.

Abstract: The disclosed image capture device is provided with: an image capture unit which implements image capture; a detection unit which detects start-up related operations relating to the start-up of image capture functions; and a control unit which controls the image capture unit. When the detection unit detects start-up related operations, the control unit sends a first start-up instruction to the image capture unit, and then, within a specified timing, implements at least part of an end processing for functions being started-up which are not image capture functions. Upon receiving the first activation instruction, the image capture unit implements a first start-up processing which is one part of a start-up processing for the image capture unit, and thus a speculative state is entered.

Abstract: A method for rotating an image with which the image can be rotated with a small memory area, a program for rotation, a recording medium and a rotation device are provided. A memory area for storing image data is sectioned into a plurality of square image areas, one line among lines of a periphery of the memory area in an initial state is secured as a temporary storage area, the remaining area is secured as an image area, and an image in an initial state is rotated by performing rotation and movement of the image data in the memory area for each square unit via the temporary storage area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal-based carbon fiber composite material exhibiting an improved thermal expansion coefficient, improved thermal conductivity, and is smaller in weight, and a method for producing the same. The composite material includes a metal and a carbon fiber including a micron carbon fiber and a nanofiber; the composite material having a first surface; the micron-size carbon fiber being oriented in one direction parallel to the first surface and being continuous from end to end; at least 80% of the nanofiber being oriented at an angle within 30° with respect to the first surface; and the nano-size carbon fiber being oriented randomly in a plane parallel to the first surface. In the composite material, a surface region may include a smaller amount of micron carbon fiber than other regions, or include no micron carbon fiber; the nanofiber may have an orientation parallel to the surface of the composite material.

Abstract: Methods for producing a transition-metal-coated carbon material having a transition metal coating which has a high adhesion strength between the transition metal and the carbon material, and which is neither exfoliated nor detached in subsequent processing are provided. The transition-metal-coated carbon material may be obtained by adhering a compound containing transition metal ions onto a surface of a carbon material and by reducing the transition metal ions with carbon in the carbon material by a heat treatment, thereby to form elemental transition metal. Here, the transition metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu or Zn. Moreover, also provided is a carbon-metal composite material exhibiting an excellent mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, by improving affinity with a metal such as aluminium by use of the transition-metal-coated carbon material.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a heat-resistant and high thermal conductive adhesive having excellent mechanical strength, heat resistance, and thermal conductivity. A heat-resistant and high thermal conductive adhesive of the present invention includes: (a) a first component in which a carbon-based filler surface-modified with a first reactive functional group and an adhesive polymer matrix having a second reactive functional group are bonded by an addition condensation reaction of the first reactive functional group and the second reactive functional group; and (b) a second component containing a carbon-based filler surface-modified with a third reactive functional group, wherein the third reactive functional group is a functional group causing an addition condensation reaction with the second reactive functional group by the application of light or heat.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a heat source that converts electric power into heat and a fixing member that gives the heat generated by the heat source to the recording medium on which the toner image is formed. The fixing device includes a safety circuit that forcibly interrupts voltage supplied from a power supply to the heat source if the temperature in the device detected by a temperature detection sensor exceeds reference temperature. The fixing device has a malfunction preventing circuit that stops the operation of the safety circuit in order to prevent the voltage supplied to the heat source from being forcibly interrupted when the voltage of the power supply supplied to the heat source is unstable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transition-metal-coated carbon material having a transition metal coating which has a high adhesion strength between the transition metal and the carbon material, and which is neither exfoliated nor detached in subsequent processing. The transition-metal-coated carbon material of the present invention is obtained by adhering a compound containing transition metal ions onto a surface of a carbon material and by reducing the transition metal ions with carbon in the carbon material by a heat treatment, thereby to form elemental transition metal. Here, the transition metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu or Zn. Moreover, the present invention provides a carbon-metal composite material exhibiting an excellent mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, by improving affinity with a metal such as aluminium by use of the transition-metal-coated carbon material.