Abstract: A beat density detecting apparatus and an information playback apparatus are provided to detect distinctive characteristics that music or the like has and to provide the same as a novel information volume. Playback data read out from an information recording medium, such as an optical disc, and sub-code data containing the information of an elapsed track time indicating a recording position of the playback data are provided to a beat detecting unit and a beat position detecting unit, respectively. The beat detecting unit detects the number of occurrences of a change in amplitude at each predetermined frequency of the playback data, and the beat position detecting unit detects an elapsed track time from the sub-code data. Further, a beat density computing unit finds the number of occurrences with respect to the elapsed track time as the characteristics information of a beat density.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier. A developer includes a container containing toner, a first roller facing the image carrier and rotated to cause the toner to adhere onto the image carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image as a toner image, a second roller supplying the toner from the container to the first roller, and a control member extending in an axial direction of the first roller and brought into contact with the first roller. A tip end edge of the control member is situated in an upstream side of a contact line that extends in the axial direction so as to include at least one contact point between the control member and the first roller, relative to a rotating direction of the first roller. A distance between the tip end edge and the contact line is not constant relative to the axial direction.

Abstract: A corona charger is provided with a back plate which defines a first space which surrounds a discharge electrode while opening a side that the discharge electrode faces an image carrier. The back plate is formed with a first opening. A storage has a second space which stores waste toner generated in the image forming apparatus. The storage is formed with a second opening. A filter causes ozone to pass through but blocks toner. The filter is disposed between the corona charger and the second space. The first space and the second space are communicated by way of the first opening and the second opening.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image associated with image data is formed on an image carrier. A developer includes a container containing toner a roller facing the image carrier and causing the toner to adhere onto the image carrier to develop the electrostatic image with the toner as a image, and an applier applying the toner to the roller. A controller is operable to receive the image data and to control the roller in correspondence to the image data. The image data includes first image data corresponding to a first image and second image data corresponding to a second image. The first image is formed onto a trailing end portion of the medium. The controller receives the second image data after the formation of the first image. After the formation of the first image and before the formation of the second image, the controller causes the roller to rotate without causing the toner to adhere onto the image carrier.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain editing effects using an optical disc in the same sense as an analog record disc is manipulated. An audio editing apparatus for playing back an optical disc such as a CD is provided with a rotatable jog dial, detecting device for detecting the amount of rotation of the jog dial, and sensing device for sensing the presence or absence of a pressing force on the jog dial. When the jog dial is rotated while being depressed with a predetermined pressing force, processing for providing sound effects is performed on the playback data to be played back from the optical disc in response to the amount of rotation detected by the detecting device. It is thereby possible to provide the same feeling of operation as provided by rotating an analog record disc through hand operations to produce playback sounds.

Abstract: A beat density detecting apparatus and an information playback apparatus are provided to detect distinctive characteristics that music or the like has and to provide the same as a novel information volume. Playback data read out from an information recording medium, such as an optical disc, and sub-code data containing the information of an elapsed track time indicating a recording position of the playback data are provided to a beat detecting unit and a beat position detecting unit, respectively. The beat detecting unit detects the number of occurrences of a change in amplitude at each predetermined frequency of the playback data, and the beat position detecting unit detects an elapsed track time from the sub-code data. Further, a beat density computing unit finds the number of occurrences with respect to the elapsed track time as the characteristics information of a beat density.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of game apparatuses that can carry out short-range wireless communication with one another. One of the game apparatuses functions as a parent apparatus, and at least one other game apparatus functions as a child apparatus. The parent apparatus transmits transmission verification data a predetermined number of times. Accordingly, the child apparatus receives the transmission verification data from the parent apparatus, and transmits to the parent apparatus the same number of piece(s) of reception verification data as those of the received transmission verification data. The parent apparatus receives the reception verification data from the child apparatus, and detects the number of the received piece(s) of reception verification data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a charging unit configured to charge the image carrier, an exposing unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the charged image carrier, a developing unit configured to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier with a development material for forming a development image, an intermediate transfer member that includes a multilayer structure having a conductive layer; a transfer unit configured to transfer the development image on the intermediate transfer member, and a control unit that controls a transfer potential and a charging potential so that a potential difference between the transfer potential and a non-image portion potential on the image carrier in a transfer position falls within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A brightness adjusting apparatus of a reflective type liquid crystal display device is applicable to a portable game machine, for example. The portable game machine is provided with a reflective type color liquid crystal display device, and displayed colors of a game character and a background are determined on the basis of color data included in color palettes. When a player inputs an instruction for brightness adjustment, a brightness adjusting screen is displayed in response thereto, and the color data included in each of an OBJ color palette and a BG color palette is converted on the basis of an adjustment value (parameter) corresponding to designated brightness, and then, the brightness of the object and the brightness of the background are individually adjusted.

Abstract: A game system includes a plurality of game apparatuses that can carry out short-range wireless communication with one another. Link strength is detected for wireless communication between a parent apparatus and a child apparatus selected as a communication partner thereof. If the link strength is not equal to or more than a predetermined value, the image of a rare item piece is not displayed and the image of a normal item piece alone is displayed even though the partner has the rare item pieces in its possession, for example. Also, the use of the rare item is not permitted. On the other hand, if the link strength is equal to or more than the predetermined value, the use of the rare item is permitted and, if the combination of rare item pieces is successful, for example, the rare item is used.

Abstract: A test pattern P3 longer than a length Ld corresponding to a circumferential length of a developing roller is formed along a moving direction of a photosensitive member (or developing roller). The developing roller transports a great quantity of toner on its surface in a first revolution thereof and hence, the test pattern has a high density. When the residual toner runs low, the toner transport quantity is decreased in the subsequent revolution, so that the test pattern P3 is decreased in the density at its portion beyond the length Ld from its head. If a density difference is observed at place corresponding to a boundary between image portions formed in the first revolution and the second revolution, it is concluded that image quality is degraded due to the shortage of residual toner.

Abstract: In a case where there are developers belonging to Life Rank 1 representing a service life substantially as long as that of a fresh developer (Step S501), and the developers includes one which is ready to print (Step S502), it is determined that image formation can be performed without performing a preparatory operation (Step S506). In a case where there is no print-ready developer but a developer which requires an agitation operation of rotating a developing roller by a predetermined quantity (Step S503), the agitation operation is performed on the developer (Step S504) so as to make the developer in a print-ready state. In a case where the developer cannot be made print-ready by the agitation operation, a density control operation for adjusting operating conditions of an apparatus is performed (Step S505). Thus is obviated an unnecessary operation. The developer subjected to a predetermined print preparatory process is used in a printing operation so that an image of good quality may be formed.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a fixed-type game machine and a hand-held type game machine. To the hand-held type game machine, an imaging cartridge is attached, and therefore, when an operator photographs a face image of a desired object, for example, face image data corresponding thereto is produced. In addition, by operating an operating switch of the hand-held type game machine, the operator can input feature data representing a feature of the object. The hand-held type game machine transmits the face image data and the feature data to the fixed-type game machine. The fixed-type game machine deforms provisional three-dimensional character data selected by the operator based on the feature data, and attaches the face image data to the deformed provisional three-dimensional feature data so as to compose an image. A composed image is displayed on an image display device by an animation based on the feature data.

Abstract: A puzzle game apparatus includes a CPU. For example, a puzzle image to be solved such as a block, and a double block for creating a double character as a copy of a player character are displayed. The double character is, on the basis of at least a fact that the player character is superposed on the double block, generated in the superposed position. A time limit is set for displaying the double character. Then, when a formation or an arrangement pattern formed by the generated double character and the player character satisfies a predetermined condition indicated by the puzzle image, a change such as displaying an image of movement of a block, for example, is applied to progress of the game.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image sensing unit. After photographing of an image of a face, for example, a characteristic data selection menu is displayed for addition of a characteristic to the face image. The characteristic data selection menu offers a plurality of characteristics expressed by words, for example. A user selects by word(s) a characteristic to be added to the face image. The face image is modified on basis of an image modification pattern corresponding to the selected characteristic data. The image modification pattern data is set with a relative increasing/decreasing value with respect to color data (RGB) of each pixel of the face image. Then, displayed is a final face image which has been modified according to a plurality of image modification patterns corresponding to the plurality of selected characteristic data, for example.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes development cartridges which develop an electrostatic latent image with toner, a rotary unit provided with the developing cartridges, an intermediate transfer belt which receives the toner image, and a controller. A length of the intermediate transfer belt is set such that a length of the image forming region is corresponded to a length of a set recording medium having a predetermined size and a length of the non-image forming region is corresponded to a distance between a rear end of the preceding one of the set recording mediums and the front end of the subsequent one. A rotational movement period of the intermediate transfer belt corresponding to the length of the non-image forming region is equal to or greater than a time required for switching the developing cartridges. The controller performs an switching operation of the developing cartridges in accordance with a size of a recording medium.

Abstract: A developer bearing member for bearing toner, the developer bearing member having a multitude of depressions on its surface, and each of the depressions has a multitude of protrusions on its surface. A method for forming the developer bearing member where a surface of the developer bearing member is treated by a blasting treatment, an etching treatment, and electroless plating. Alternatively, the surface of the developer bearing member can be treated with a blasting treatment using particles having a multitude of depressions.

Abstract: A game machine is provided with two display units, that is, a first LCD 11 and a second LCD 12. On the second LCD 12, feature information unique to each object located in a virtual game space is displayed. When a player selects, based on information displayed on the second LCD 12, one of the objects provided in the virtual game space, a focus point of a virtual camera provided in the virtual game space is set so that the virtual camera is oriented to a direction of the selected object, and the state of the virtual game space captured by the virtual camera is displayed on the first LCD 11. With this, the virtual game space can be displayed without impairing its worldview. Also, the player can be allowed to easily specify a desired focus target in the virtual game space.

Abstract: A game system with a high entertainment value, in which a plurality of player character are played by a plurality of players, and a game program for such a game system are provided. A plurality of individual displays provided to players and a common display commonly provided to all players are provided. Each player character is moved between a first game map and a second game map upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition. A player character located on the first game map and at least a part of the first game map are displayed on the common display. A player character located on the second game map and at least a part of the second game map are displayed on an individual display provided to a player operating that player character.

Abstract: A corona charger is provided with a back plate which defines a first space which surrounds a discharge electrode while opening a side that the discharge electrode faces an image carrier. The back plate is formed with a first opening. A storage has a second space which stores waste toner generated in the image forming apparatus. The storage is formed with a second opening. A filter causes ozone to pass through but blocks toner. The filter is disposed between the corona charger and the second space. The first space and the second space are communicated by way of the first opening and the second opening.