Abstract: This disclosure concerns an optical disk state detection apparatus comprising a defect detector to which a signal read from an optical disk is imparted, the defect detector detecting a defect to supply a defect detection signal; rotation synchronous pulse generator supplying a rotation synchronous pulse in synchronization with rotation of the optical disk; a memory in which the defect detection signal is stored, the defect detection signal being imparted to the memory; a write circuit performing write processing of data to the memory; a read circuit performing read processing of data from the memory; and a system controller which controls the read circuit such that the defect detection signal is written in the memory in synchronization with the rotation synchronous pulse and such that the defect detection signal is read at least one time every one rotation of the optical disk from the memory in synchronization with the rotation synchronous pulse.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a coil for generating magnetic flux and an image heating member. The image heating member comprises an electroconductive layer which generates heat by eddy current generated by the magnetic flux from the coil, for heating an image on a recording material. The image heating apparatus further comprises an energization control device for controlling energization of the coil so that a temperature of the image heating member is a predetermined temperature Tf (° C.), and a heat pipe contactable with the image heating member. The electroconductive layer has a Curie temperature Tc so that the relation Tf?Tc?Tf+Qmax (W)×Rh (° C./W) is satisfied, wherein Qmax (W) represents a maximum amount of heat transport, and Rh (° C./W) represents a value of heat resistance of the heat pipe at a dryout occurrence temperature of the heat pipe.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a first belt contactable to an image on a recording material to heat the image; a second belt for forming a nip with the first belt; a first pressing pad for pressing the first belt in the nip; a second pressing pad for pressing the second belt toward the first pressing pad, wherein the first pressing pad has a surface roughness Rz of not more than 20 ?m, and the second pressing pad has a surface roughness Rz of 50-300 ?m.

Abstract: An image forming system has an image forming device, a first image heating device for heating a toner image at a first nip to maintain a target temperature, a second image heating device for heating a toner image at a second nip to maintain a target temperature, a selecting device for selecting a first image forming mode in which only the first image heating device is used for a image heating process and a second image forming mode in which the first image heating device and the second image heating device are used for the image heating process, and a delaying device for making timing at which the target temperature of the first image heating device is lowered in a stand by state later than a timing at which the target temperature of the second image heating device is lowered in the stand by state.

Abstract: A temperature measuring element (2a) for detecting a temperature, a display panel (9) for displaying the temperature measured by the temperature measuring element (2a), an operation switch (11) for predetermined operation, and a vibration generator (12) for notifying that an electronic clinical thermometer is in a predetermined state are arranged in the order named in the longitudinal direction of the electronic clinical thermometer. The display panel, the vibration generator, and a circuit board are held in one inside frame (13), and are fitted together with the inside frame (13) into a sheath case (1) and assembled.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member configured to heat an image on a recording medium at a nip, driving means configured to drive the heating member, an endless belt configured to form the nip with the heating member, and a driving roller configured to drive the endless belt. In the image heating apparatus, the following expressions are satisfied: ?2<?1 0.005<?2<0.3 V1<V2 where ?2 is a friction coefficient between the endless belt and the driving roller, ?1 is a friction coefficient between the heating member and the endless belt, V1 is a peripheral speed of the heating member, and V2 is a peripheral speed of the driving roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming means for forming an image on a recording material; a plurality of image heating means for sequentially heating an image on the recording material; and switching means for switching a number of the image heating means to be used for heating the image; setting means for manually setting an operating condition of at least one of the image heating means.

Abstract: In a method of producing an oil-in-water type emulsion containing an internally crosslinked fine resin particle, the fine resin particle is encapsulated in an emulsion particle having an average particle diameter of 0.02 to 0.3 ?m. The method includes a step of undergoing phase transition from a water-in-oil type emulsion (Y) which includes a resin (A) having a cationic group or an anionic group, an acid or a base (B) neutralizing 20 to 150 mole percent of the cationic group or the anionic group in the resin (A), an internally crosslinked fine resin particle (C), having an average particle diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 ?m, dispersed in an oil phase and an aqueous medium (D) to an oil-in-water type emulsion (Z) by adding the aqueous medium (D) further to the water-in-oil type emulsion (Y).

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant ?-amylases that may be produced at high yield from recombinant microorganisms.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus having a first fixing device for heating an image on a recording material, and a second fixing device for heating the image on the recording material heated by the first fixing device, wherein at the start of an image heating process, the preparatory operation of the first fixing device is started earlier than the preparatory operation of the second fixing device.

Abstract: To provide the compounds inhibiting PDE 7 selectively, and therefore, enhance cellular cAMP level. Consequently, the compound is useful for treating various kinds of disease such as allergic disease, inflammatory disease or immunologic disease. The compound is pyridinylpyrazolo-pyrimidinone compound represented by the following formula (IA) or (IB): especially, R1 is cyclohexyl or cycloheptyl group, R2 is methyl; R3 is a group: —NR5R6 or —S(O)0-2R8;hydrogen atom; nitro group; cyano group; a halogen atom; heteroaryl group; and R4 is methoxy or ethoxy group.

Abstract: The invention relates to mutant ?-amylases that may be produced at high yield from recombinant microorganisms.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus having a first fixing device for heating an image on a recording material, and a second fixing device for heating the image on the recording material heated by the first fixing device, wherein at the start of an image heating process, the preparatory operation of the first fixing device is started earlier than the preparatory operation of the second fixing device.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating an image on a recording material in a nip; a pressing pad for pressing the belt from an inner surface thereof in the nip; a sheet-like member, provided to cover the pressing pad, for sliding movement relative to the belt; a lubricant absorbing member for suppressing swelling of the pressing pad by absorbing a lubricant applied on an inner surface of the belt, the lubricant absorbing member is covered by the sheet-like member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material; a pressing member for forming a nip, with the image heating member, in which the recording material is nipped and conveyed; heating means for heating a part of the image heating member; drive means for rotationally driving the image heating member; contacting-and-separating means for contacting and separating said image heating member and said pressing member relative to each other; standby control means for heating said image heating member in a predetermined period, while said image heating member is rotated, in a state of separation between said image heating member and said pressing member during standby; and pressing operation control means for contacting said image heating member and said pressing member, wherein when an image forming signal is inputted in the predetermined period during the standby, said image heating member and said pressing member are contacted after heating of said imag

Abstract: After a first via hole leading to a ferroelectric capacitor structure are formed in an interlayer insulating film by dry etching, a second via hole to expose part of the ferroelectric capacitor structure is formed in a hydrogen diffusion preventing film so as to be aligned with the first via hole by wet etching, and a via hole constructed by the first via hole and the second via hole communicating with each other is formed.

Abstract: An endless metallic belt formed of a nickel alloy which contains at least one element selected from the first group of elements consisting of phosphorus, boron, silicon, germanium, selenium, antimony, tellurium, bismuth and astatine, and, in an X-ray diffraction pattern of which, half widths of X-ray diffraction peaks of the (111) crystal plane and (200) crystal plane are both from 0.5° to 2.5°.

Abstract: Pyrazolopyrimidinone derivatives expressed by the following general formula (IA) or (IB): where the symbols are as disclosed in the specification, are provided as desired compounds. These compounds selectively inhibiting PDE7, thereby increasing the intracellular cAMP level and inhibiting the activation of T cells. Thus, these compounds are useful for prevention and treatment of various allergic diseases and inflammatory or immunological diseases.

Abstract: The dead storage of recorded programs stored in a storage device of a recording/reproducing apparatus is minimized to achieve an effective use of the recorded programs. At power-on, the recording/reproducing apparatus endlessly reproduces the recorded programs from an HDD till power-off, as giving priority to the control of video recording and reproducing operations. A reproducing start position controller overwritably stores a reproducing end position of the endless reproducing at power-off, and sets a reproducing start position of the endless reproducing to the previous reproducing end position so stored therein. When a free channel is selected as a receiver channel, a monitor output controller provides monitor outputs of the recorded program subjected to the endless reproducing instead of outputting signals received on the free channel, whereby the recorded program is displayed.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus having a first fixing device for heating an image on a recording material, and a second fixing device for heating the image on the recording material heated by the first fixing device, wherein at the start of an image heating process, the preparatory operation of the first fixing device is started earlier than the preparatory operation of the second fixing device.