Abstract: Provided is a charging member contamination determining device including plural units that includes a charging member, a member to be charged and a measuring section that measures a discharging current value between the charging member and the member to be charged, a calculating section that calculates a difference between current values measured by two units among the plural units, and a determining section that determines the presence or absence of contamination in the charging member based on the difference between the current values for each combination of two units calculated by the calculating section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display medium comprising a pair of substrates at least one of which having translucency, the substrates being disposed opposite to each other with a gap, a dispersion medium which has translucency and is enclosed in a space between the pair of substrates; and plural kinds of particle groups which are movably dispersed in the dispersion medium, move according to an electric field formed, and have different colors and forces for separation from the substrates.

Abstract: Provided is a charging member contamination determining device including plural units that includes a charging member, a member to be charged and a measuring section that measures a discharging current value between the charging member and the member to be charged, a calculating section that calculates a difference between current values measured by two units among the plural units, and a determining section that determines the presence or absence of contamination in the charging member based on the difference between the current values for each combination of two units calculated by the calculating section.

Abstract: A reading device includes a first illuminating section that illuminates a reading area with first illumination light of a first direction; a second illuminating section that illuminates the reading area with second illumination light of a second direction; a light-receiving section that receives reflection light of the first illumination light and reflection light of the second illumination light reflected from the reading area, the first illumination light being applied from the first illuminating section and the second illumination light being applied from the second illuminating section; and reflecting members that are disposed side by side in the reading area in a widthwise direction thereof, and that have first and second reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: A detection apparatus includes the following elements. A first measuring unit measures, from a binary image, density levels of first and second regions which are alternately arranged in a first direction in the binary image, the binary image being disposed on a second surface of a holding member which includes a first surface and the second surface. A storage unit stores therein information indicating an association between a distance from the first measuring unit to the second surface and a contrast between the adjacent first and second regions. A calculator calculates a contrast between the adjacent first and second regions. A detector specifies a distance corresponding to the calculated contrast by using the stored information, and detects a deflection of the holding member in the first direction by using the specified distance as the distance from the second surface to the adjacent first and second regions.

Abstract: An image display medium comprises a display member, a back substrate, spacers having a cell structure held between the substrates, and first particles and second particles, whose colors and charging polarities are different from one another, enclosed between the display member and back substrate. The display member includes a transparent support base, a transparent electrode formed thereon, a transparent dielectric layer formed on the transparent electrode, filters formed on the opposite side from the transparent electrodes side of the support base, and a protective layer formed thereon.

Abstract: A light guide includes: a body which is a light-transmitting member and has light incidence surfaces as two end surfaces in a longitudinal direction and a light output surface which is one of side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction; and light absorbing members which are provided on the light output surface or at least one, adjacent to the light output surface, of the side surfaces of the body and have a function of absorbing light that shines on the body from outside the body.

Abstract: A reading device includes a first illuminating section that illuminates a reading area with first illumination light of a first direction; a second illuminating section that illuminates the reading area with second illumination light of a second direction; a light-receiving section that receives reflection light of the first illumination light and reflection light of the second illumination light reflected from the reading area, the first illumination light being applied from the first illuminating section and the second illumination light being applied from the second illuminating section; and reflecting members that are disposed side by side in the reading area in a widthwise direction thereof, and that have first and second reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: A detection apparatus includes the following elements. A first measuring unit measures, from a binary image, density levels of first and second regions which are alternately arranged in a first direction in the binary image, the binary image being disposed on a second surface of a holding member which includes a first surface and the second surface. A storage unit stores therein information indicating an association between a distance from the first measuring unit to the second surface and a contrast between the adjacent first and second regions. A calculator calculates a contrast between the adjacent first and second regions. A detector specifies a distance corresponding to the calculated contrast by using the stored information, and detects a deflection of the holding member in the first direction by using the specified distance as the distance from the second surface to the adjacent first and second regions.

Abstract: A communication method controlling system includes a control apparatus and a writing apparatus. The writing apparatus includes a function that employs plural communication methods. When a user selects content by manipulating an operation terminal, a control apparatus detects the content ID, and transmits corresponding content data and communication method information to the writing apparatus. Based on the received content data, the writing apparatus writes the contents data and displays a content image on electronic paper, and changes a communication method according to the received communication method information and uses an LED lamp, for example, to notify the user which communication method has been selected. When the user performs an operation according to the available communication method, information is transmitted from the writing apparatus to a port using the communication method.

Abstract: An image display medium comprises a display member, a back substrate, spacers having a cell structure held between the substrates, and first particles and second particles, whose colors and charging polarities are different from one another, enclosed between the display member and back substrate. The display member includes a transparent support base, a transparent electrode formed thereon, a transparent dielectric layer formed on the transparent electrode, filters formed on the opposite side from the transparent electrodes side of the support base, and a protective layer formed thereon.

Abstract: An image display medium comprises a display member, a back substrate, spacers having a cell structure held between the substrates, and first particles and second particles, whose colors and charging polarities are different from one another, enclosed between the display member and back substrate. The display member includes a transparent support base, a transparent electrode formed thereon, a transparent dielectric layer formed on the transparent electrode, filters formed on the opposite side from the transparent electrodes side of the support base, and a protective layer formed thereon.

Abstract: A light guide includes: a body which is a light-transmitting member and has light incidence surfaces as two end surfaces in a longitudinal direction and a light output surface which is one of side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction; and light absorbing members which are provided on the light output surface or at least one, adjacent to the light output surface, of the side surfaces of the body and have a function of absorbing light that shines on the body from outside the body.

Abstract: There is provided a driving device for an image display medium that drives the image display medium including: a display substrate; a back surface substrate; plural first electrodes; plural second electrodes; and particles enclosed between the display substrate and the back surface substrate so as to move according to an electric field generated between the substrates by applying a voltage corresponding to an image between the first and second electrodes; the driving device including: a voltage application section that applies the voltage corresponding to an image between the first and second electrodes, the voltage application section, as a display drive voltage to be applied for each pixel to display a desired color at each pixel, applying a first pulse voltage that can cause the particles in a stationary state to start moving and thereafter applying a second pulse voltage that can cause the particles that have started moving to move.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided for processing image data in order to display an image at an image display medium which is capable of displaying white, black, and colors at individual pixels, which are structured by pluralities of sub-pixels. The judgment component acquires the image data and judges whether there is a chromatic color or a non-chromatic color at each pixel. When a pixel is judged to be non-chromatic, the selection component selects a pre-specified black-and-white sub-pixel set in accordance with a gray level of the non-chromatic color. When a pixel is judged to be chromatic, the conversion component converts color data to a sub-pixel set of black and the color in accordance with a pre-specified condition. Of results of conversion, the replacement component replaces a pre-specified sub-pixel set of colors, in an individual pixel or in a pre-specified sub-pixel group, with a pre-specified black-and-white sub-pixel set.

Abstract: An image display device is provided. The image display device has: an image display medium where charged particle groups are sealed between a pair of substrates at least one of which has translucency and which are opposed to each other with a space therebetween, and display density is changed by transfer of the charged particle groups between the pair of substrates according to an electric field formed by a voltage applied between the substrates; a temperature measuring unit that measures a temperature of the image display medium; a voltage applying unit that applies, between the substrates, a driving voltage according to the temperature of the image display medium measured by the temperature measuring unit, based on a predetermined voltage applying condition corresponding to the temperature of the image display medium, in order to display an image with predetermined display density on the image display medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display device capable of freely changing a scanning direction of an image display medium including support plates, first and second electrode groups provided at the plates and colored particles provided between the plates, including first and second electrode-driving components which receive electrode-designation signals and apply voltages to the designated electrodes in the first and second electrode groups, and which can apply voltage to plural electrodes simultaneously, a line-image-data generation component which generates line-image-data for line images to be displayed along scan electrodes in accordance with a scanning direction, and a signal-output-destination-switching component, in accordance with the scanning direction, which outputs a first electrode designation signal for designating a scan electrode of a line image and a second electrode designation signal for designating an electrode to be driven for displaying the line image, to the first electrode drivi

Abstract: An image display device and image display method are provided. The device and method can prevent changes in image density and contrast, which are caused by repeated displaying over long periods of time and changes in environment, by employing accurate electric current detection, due to the following operations. Voltage measurement is initiated with a detection circuit. Next, the application of drive voltage is initiated with a drive power source. An electric current value is calculated from the measured voltage value and the electric current value is temporarily stored. The electric current values are stored every set amount of time and the storage thereof accumulates. Application of the drive voltage is terminated and the integral value of the electric current is calculated in accordance with formulas.

Abstract: There is provided a method for initializing an image display medium. The image display medium includes a pair of substrates, a common electrode, pixel electrodes that are arranged for respective pixels constituting rows and columns on the other substrate, a display layer in which groups of moving particles that move between the substrates in accordance with an electric field are dispersed in a dispersion medium enclosed between the substrates, and transistors that are connected to the pixel electrodes, respectively. Each transistor controls a voltage to be applied to the corresponding pixel. The method includes a first procedure of applying voltages to the source electrodes of the transistors of all the pixels collectively, and a second procedure of applying voltages to the gate electrodes of the transistors of all the pixels collectively while continuing the applying of the voltages in the first procedure.

Abstract: In an image display apparatus and image display method suppress the degradation of display function and the shortening of service life due to long-term use, measurement of a current value is carried out and the measured current value each time a certain time elapses is stored. The integrated value of the current is calculated, and a comparator compares the integrated value with a reference value stored in a storage section for determining whether or not the result is greater than a prescribed value. If the result is affirmed to differ by prescribed value, a recovery voltage is applied, and it is determined whether or not a recovery time has exceeded a stored recovery time. If the excedance of the recovery time is affirmed, the application of the recovery voltage is terminated. If a negation is given at the determination of the greater difference value, the flow is ended. If a negation is given at the determination of the recovery time, the recovery voltage is applied.