Abstract: The present disclosure is an optical line test system that detects a distribution of loss points of an optical line in a longitudinal direction, using a coherent light measurement device, applies vibration to facility disposed on a path of the optical line, detects a vibration point of the optical line in a longitudinal direction upon applying the vibration, using the coherent light measurement device, and identifies the loss point based on correspondence between the detected loss point and vibration point.

Abstract: A coupling/uncoupling device includes a columnar member configured by a divided pair of semicircular members, and a pair of coupling members forming a circular holding section that holds the columnar member. The circular holding section includes a circular inner surface section with which an outer circumferential surface of the columnar member is in slide contact, the circular inner surface section being formed from inner circumferential surfaces of a semicircular section in one coupling member and a semicircular section in the other coupling member. The columnar member is configured to be rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions along the circular inner surface section about a reference position where a contact surface of the pair of coupling members and a dividing surface of the columnar member are flush with each other.

Abstract: A coupling/uncoupling device includes a columnar member configured by a divided pair of semicircular members, and a pair of coupling members forming a circular holding section that holds the columnar member. The circular holding section includes a circular inner surface section with which an outer circumferential surface of the columnar member is in slide contact, the circular inner surface section being formed from inner circumferential surfaces of a semicircular section in one coupling member and a semicircular section in the other coupling member. The columnar member is configured to be rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions along the circular inner surface section about a reference position where a contact surface of the pair of coupling members and a dividing surface of the columnar member are flush with each other.

Abstract: A sheet feeder comprises a sheet stacking unit which stacks sheets, a sheet pickup unit which picks up a sheet from one side of the stacked sheets on the sheet stacking unit, a sheet separating and feeding unit which separately feeds sheets one by one to a conveyance path, an orientation holding unit which holds a feed orientation of a sheet, and a biasing unit which biases the orientation holding unit from a retracted position to a projecting position. A projection amount of the orientation holding unit from an inclined surface increases as the number of stacked sheets decreases, and the projection amount from the inclined surface decreases as the number of stacked sheets increases.

Abstract: A main server and a mirror server hold the same content. A server switching apparatus sets only one of the web servers to be active. In the case where the mirror server has not been attacked in an immediately-previous operating period, the server switching apparatus switches from the main server to the mirror server. Upon receiving a request from a client computer, the server switching apparatus transfers the request to the active web server. The active web server then sends the requested content.

Abstract: A sheet feeder comprises a sheet stacking unit which stacks sheets, a sheet pickup unit which picks up a sheet from one side of the stacked sheets on the sheet stacking unit, a sheet separating and feeding unit which separately feeds sheets one by one to a conveyance path, an orientation holding unit which holds a feed orientation of a sheet, and a biasing unit which biases the orientation holding unit from a retracted position to a projecting position. A projection amount of the orientation holding unit from an inclined surface increases as the number of stacked sheets decreases, and the projection amount from the inclined surface decreases as the number of stacked sheets increases.

Abstract: A main server and a mirror server hold the same content. A server switching apparatus sets only one of the web servers to be active. In the case where the mirror server has not been attacked in an immediately-previous operating period, the server switching apparatus switches from the main server to the mirror server. Upon receiving a request from a client computer, the server switching apparatus transfers the request to the active web server. The active web server then sends the requested content.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information stored in a memory of a printing device connected through a bidirectional interface, and a selecting unit for selecting a printer driver corresponding to the information acquired by the acquiring unit from a plurality of printer drivers on the basis of the information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which outputs data to an electronic device. Information indicating a data processing ability of the electronic device is first obtained, whereupon data processing means is controlled so as to process the data output to the electronic device depending on the data processing ability indicated by the information so obtained.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information from a printer connected through a bidirectional interface, and a control unit for controlling a display status of a virtual printer, which is displayed on a display screen and represents the printer, on the basis of the information acquired by the acquiring unit. An output apparatus includes a setting unit for setting an operating environment, and a changing unit for changing operating environment information set by the setting unit on the basis of information acquired from an information processing apparatus connected through a bidirectional interface.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information stored in a memory of a printing device connected through a bidirectional interface, and a selecting unit for selecting a printer driver corresponding to the information acquired by the acquiring unit from a plurality of printer drivers on the basis of the information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires identification information which specifies an interpreting program for interpreting a device control language, the specified interpreting program being operable in an external device connected to the information processing apparatus. It is discriminated whether a selected first control program corresponds to the device control language interpreted by the specified interpreting program. If it is discriminated that the selected first control program does not correspond to the device control language interpreted by the specified interpreting program, a second control program corresponding to the device control language interpreted by the specified interpreting program is selected from a plurality of control programs. Data is output to the external device using the first control program or, if it is discriminated that the first control program does not correspond to the device control language, the selected second control program.

Abstract: An image data control apparatus includes a memory for storing image data and a reader for reading the image data from the memory. The reader can operate in a first mode for erasing the image data in association with the reading of the image data from the memory and can operate in a second mode for restoring the read image data in the storage means in association with the reading of the image data from the memory.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information from a printer connected through a bidirectional interface, and a control unit for controlling a display status of a virtual printer, which is displayed on a display screen and represents the printer, on the basis of the information acquired by the acquiring unit. An output apparatus includes a setting unit for setting an operating environment, and a changing unit for changing operating environment information set by the setting unit on the basis of information acquired from an information processing apparatus connected through a bidirectional interface.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for communicating information with an information device. The information processing apparatus accesses virtual device image data representing an image of the information device, obtains status information representing a status of the information device from the information device through a bidirectional interface, and controls a display to display a virtual device image of the information device based on the accessed virtual device image data and the obtained status information. The virtual device image is a visual representation of the physical appearance of the information device in the status represented by the obtained status information.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit for acquiring information from a printer connected through a bidirectional interface, and a control unit for controlling a display status of a virtual printer, which is displayed on a display screen and represents the printer, on the basis of the information acquired by the acquiring unit. An output apparatus includes a setting unit for setting an operating environment, and a changing unit for changing operating environment information set by the setting unit on the basis of information acquired from an information processing apparatus connected through a bidirectional interface.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a silicon-based thin film photoelectric converter, a crystalline photoelectric conversion layer included in the photoelectric converter is deposited by plasma CVD under the following conditions: the temperature of the underlying film is at most 550° C.; a gas introduced into a plasma reaction chamber has a silane-based gas and a hydrogen gas where the flow rate of the hydrogen gas relative to the silane-based gas is at least 50 times; the pressure in the plasma reaction chamber is set to 3 Torr; and the deposition speed is 17 nm/min in the thickness-wise direction.

Abstract: A conduit guide is disclosed for attaching bicycle cables or conduits to the bicycle frame. Basically, the conduit guide includes a strap and a retainer. The strap and retainer are designed to secure a bicycle conduit to the bicycle frame without exerting any substantial radial compressive force on the conduits. The strap is preferably a plastic tie-type of band clamp. Of course, other types of band clamps can be utilized. The retainer includes a U-shaped conduit retaining portion and a foot portion. The foot portion includes a first foot section and a second foot section integrally formed at the ends of the leg sections of the conduits retaining portion. A strap receiving recess is formed between the foot portion and the conduit retaining portion to secure the retainer to the bicycle frame without exerting a compressive force on the conduit. In alternate embodiments, a bridge is formed between leg sections for added stability.

Abstract: A printing system includes a host computer and a printer. The host computer includes a memory which store process steps that are executable by a processor, and a processor. The processor executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to divide encoded image data in a page of encoded image data into blocks, each block having a size which is less than a storage capacity of a buffer on a printer, and (2) to transmit the blocks of encoded image data to the printer. The printer includes a memory which stores process steps that are executable by a processor, and a processor. The processor executes the process steps stored in the memory (1) to store a predetermined amount of encoded image data in a buffer, (2) to control a printer engine to print images based on the encoded image data stored in the buffer, and (3) to store additional encoded image data, including blocks of the encoded image data, in the buffer in place of the encoded image data for which images have been printed.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a silicon-based thin-film photoelectric conversion device, where a plasma CVD process is used to deposit a polycrystalline photoelectric conversion layer. During the deposition of the photoelectric conversion layer, the temperature of the underlying layer is less than 550° C., the pressure in the plasma chamber is more than 5 Torr, and the ratio of the flow rates of a hydrogen gas and a silane-type gas is more than 50. In addition, one of the following operations is carried out during the deposition to change the relevant parameters between the start and end of the deposition. First, the distance between the plasma discharge electrodes is increased gradually or in steps. Second, the pressure of the reaction chamber is increased gradually or in steps. Third, the flow rate of the silane-type gas is increased gradually. Fourth, the plasma discharge power density is reduced gradually or in steps.