Abstract: LEDs (7) are arranged on at least opposite two corners of a bottom surface of a box body (11) of a tray shape whose bottom surface is quadrilateral, whose upper side is open, on an inner surface of which a light reflection member (11b) is provided, and whose side walls (11c) are inclined outward, so as to irradiate inside of the box body, wherein a plurality of LEDs (71) are arranged so that a region irradiated by each of the LEDs (71) rotates sequentially in a specific direction (same direction). As a result, there can be obtained a surface light source having high brightness and uniformity in an arbitrary size whether the light source is small or large while using semiconductor light emitting devices (LEDs), and an electrically illuminated signboard using the surface light source, which is thin and capable of uniform display and which operates with low electricity consumption.

Abstract: Driving of a pulse motor is controlled in such a manner that a rotating body driven by the pulse motor rotates at a uniform angular velocity. Angular displacement of the rotating body is detected, a difference between a detection value of the angular displacement and a target value of angular displacement set in advance is calculated, and a drive pulse frequency of a drive pulse signal to be used for driving the pulse motor is calculated based on the difference and a reference drive pulse frequency. Whether the difference is added to the reference drive pulse can be selected.

Abstract: An AC plug of a battery charger is arranged so as to be enclosed into a casing of the battery charger or projected therefrom when it is laterally rotated. The AC plug has two conductive blades and an edge surface for projecting them at an almost right angle. A first surface and a first rotary shaft are provided for a first side surface. A second surface and a second rotary shaft are provided for a second side surface opposite to the first side surface. A first contact portion electrically connected to one conductive blade is projected from the first rotary shaft. A second contact portion electrically connected to the other conductive blade is projected from the second rotary shaft. Conductive spring terminals which are elastically come into contact with the front edges of the first and second contact portions are provided for a board in the casing. By reducing a rotational radius of each contact portion, a small battery charger is provided.

Abstract: A belt driving apparatus is disclosed, that uses feedback signals for executing feedback control of a motor that drives the rotation of a belt. The belt driving apparatus includes a first sensor for detecting an index of a scale formed along a peripheral direction of the belt, a second sensor for detecting a detection target cooperatively moving with the rotation of the belt, and a sensor switching part for selectively switching the feedback signals used for executing the feedback control of the motor. The feedback signals include first signals output from the first sensor and second signals output from the second sensor. The sensor switching part selects the second signals as the feedback signals to be used during a period beginning at the activation of the motor and ending when a predetermined condition is satisfied. The sensor switching part selects the first signals as the feedback signals to be used after the predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A belt device includes a belt as an endless belt that has a scale with a large number of scale marks formed along the whole circumference of the belt. A sensor reads the scale to obtain scale information. A control device provides control to correct a belt speed, based on scale information read. A scale-mark degradation determining unit determines whether the scale mark is degraded. A belt drive controller continuously provides control to correct the belt speed for a degraded portion until the scale-mark degradation determining unit determines that there is no degradation.

Abstract: In an image reading device having a sheet-through mechanism, a controller controls a stepping motor to decelerate an image reading system when the image reading system is moved to a reference white plate reading position, and controls a stepping motor drive electric current to decrease when the image reading system reads a reference white plate. When the image reading system finishes reading the reference white plate, the controller controls the stepping motor drive electric current to increase so as to rapidly decelerate the image reading system. The controller further controls the stepping motor such that a moving speed of the image reading system to an original document reading position is lower than a moving speed of the image reading system to the reference white plate reading position.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a belt member, scale marks, a scale mark detector, a reference mark, and a reference mark detector. The belt member makes an endless movement while being stretched by stretching members. The scale mark detector detects the scale marks, and the reference mark is provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the belt member. The reference mark detector detects whether the reference mark is present at the predetermined position.

Abstract: A scale including equally spaced marks is attached to a belt in a direction of movement of the belt such that a gap is formed between a first end and a second end of the scale. A first sensor and a second sensor detect the marks on the scale and output first signals and second signals respectively upon detecting the marks. The first sensor and the second sensor are located at different positions along the direction. A controlling unit controls the speed based on any one of the first signals and the second signals according to a position of the gap detected by the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: An AC adaptor has an AC plug having wider contact portions facilitating better contact despite the displacement. AC plug 3 of AC adaptor 3 has a pair of conductive blades 4, an end surface with the blades projecting with a substantially right angle, a first surface and a first rotary shaft on a first side surface. On a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, there are provided a second surface and a second rotary shaft. A first and second planar contact portions which are electrically connected respectively to a first and second conductive blades are configured respectively to project slightly from the surfaces of the first and second rotary shafts. On a circuit board in the case, there are provided conductive spring terminals 17 with projecting portions thereof making resilient contact with the first and second planar contact portions 15.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotary member having an image formation area, and a scale located at a position outside of the image formation area and on an inner circumference of the rotary member. Also included is a drive device configured to drive the rotary member, a developing device configured to develop an image on the image formation area of the rotary member, and a transfer device configured to transfer the image on the image formation area to a recording sheet. Further included is a sensor configured to detect the scale on the rotary member and to output a signal corresponding to the detection of the scale.

Abstract: A belt driving unit includes a rotary belt on which a scale is formed, a sensor that reads the scale, a normal-position control loop that detects an actual position of the rotary belt based on information of the scale read by the sensor, and corrects a position of the rotary belt based on the actual belt position detected, an abnormal-condition control loop for a situation when an abnormality occurs in the normal-position control loop, and a loop-switchover timing controller that controls a switchover timing of a control loop between the normal-position control loop and the abnormal-condition control loop.

Abstract: An AC adaptor has an AC plug having wider contact portions facilitating better contact despite the displacement. AC plug 3 of AC adaptor 3 has a pair of conductive blades 4, an end surface with the blades projecting with a substantially right angle, a first surface and a first rotary shaft on a first side surface. On a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, there are provided a second surface and a second rotary shaft. A first and second planar contact portions which are electrically connected respectively to a first and second conductive blades are configured respectively to project slightly from the surfaces of the first and second rotary shafts. On a circuit board in the case, there are provided conductive spring terminals 17 with projecting portions thereof making resilient contact with the first and second planar contact portions 15.

Abstract: Driving of a pulse motor is controlled in such a manner that a rotating body driven by the pulse motor rotates at a uniform angular velocity. Angular displacement of the rotating body is detected, a difference between a detection value of the angular displacement and a target value of angular displacement set in advance is calculated, and a drive pulse frequency of a drive pulse signal to be used for driving the pulse motor is calculated based on the difference and a reference drive pulse frequency. Whether the difference is added to the reference drive pulse can be selected.

Abstract: A belt device includes a belt as an endless belt that has a scale with a large number of scale marks formed along the whole circumference of the belt. A sensor reads the scale to obtain scale information. A control device provides control to correct a belt speed, based on scale information read. A scale-mark degradation determining unit determines whether the scale mark is degraded. A belt drive controller continuously provides control to correct the belt speed for a degraded portion until the scale-mark degradation determining unit determines that there is no degradation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a rotary member having an image formation area, and a scale located at a position outside of the image formation area and on an inner circumference of the rotary member. Also included is a drive device configured to drive the rotary member, a developing device configured to develop an image on the image formation area of the rotary member, and a transfer device configured to transfer the image on the image formation area to a recording sheet. Further included is a sensor configured to detect the scale on the rotary member and to output a signal corresponding to the detection of the scale.

Abstract: An AC plug of a battery charger is arranged so as to be enclosed into a casing of the battery charger or projected therefrom when it is laterally rotated. The AC plug has two conductive blades and an edge surface for projecting them at an almost right angle. A first surface and a first rotary shaft are provided for a first side surface. A second surface and a second rotary shaft are provided for a second side surface opposite to the first side surface. A first contact portion electrically connected to one conductive blade is projected from the first rotary shaft. A second contact portion electrically connected to the other conductive blade is projected from the second rotary shaft. Conductive spring terminals which are elastically come into contact with the front edges of the first and second contact portions are provided for a board in the casing. By reducing a rotational radius of each contact portion, a small battery charger is provided.

Abstract: An optical encoder includes a light emitting unit that emits parallel light onto a plurality of marks that are arranged on an object such as a rotor or a belt, at a predetermined interval in a moving direction of the object, and a light receiving unit that receives light modulated by the marks. The parallel light is generated by a collimating lens.

Abstract: A belt unit includes a belt member, scale marks, a scale mark detector, a reference mark, and a reference mark detector. The belt member makes an endless movement while being stretched by stretching members. The scale mark detector detects the scale marks, and the reference mark is provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the belt member. The reference mark detector detects whether the reference mark is present at the predetermined position.

Abstract: A slit structure of an encoder for preventing the position precision at high speed operation from deteriorating.

Abstract: A process for the production of a highly chemically stable hydrophilic ODS packing material made of silica gel for liquid chromatography that causes hardly any peak tailing. ODS groups are chemically bonded to a silica gel having a specific surface area of 200 to 300 m2/g, which is then subjected once or twice to end capping including high temperature end capping so as to efficiently remove or deactivate active silanol groups.