Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming units, static eliminating sections, a mode switching section, and an exposure switching section. The static eliminating sections outputs first and second light. The mode switching section switches a state a between a first mode in which all of the image forming units are operated and a second mode in which only a first image forming unit is operated. In a second image forming unit located upstream next to the first image forming unit, the exposure switching section causes the image bearing member of the second image forming unit not to be irradiated with the first light and causes the image bearing member of the first image forming unit to be irradiated with the second light in the second mode.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a control circuit and a first circuit. The control circuit switches between a current control mode and a voltage control mode according to an inputted dimming signal and thus dims a light-emitting element. In the current control mode the control circuit controls an output current supplied to the light-emitting element to a target current, and in the voltage control mode the control circuit controls an output voltage supplied to the light-emitting element to a target voltage. The first circuit detects the output current and the output voltage, and sets the target voltage at which switching between the current control mode and the voltage control mode is carried out as a first voltage.

Abstract: A photosensitive member refreshing device includes an image bearing member, an exposure device, a developing device, a detecting section, a cleaning section, and a control section. The image bearing member has a photosensitive roller rotatable about a rotation axis. The exposure device exposes the photosensitive roller to light according to an exposure pattern. The developing device supplies a toner to the photosensitive roller to form a toner image corresponding to the exposure pattern on the photosensitive roller after the exposure device has exposed the photosensitive roller to light. The detecting section detects the toner image on the image bearing member. The cleaning section cleans a surface of the photosensitive roller. The control section controls the exposure pattern based on a result of detection by the detecting section.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus according to an embodiment includes a switching element, an inductor, a drive circuit, a mounting substrate, and an insulating substrate. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a lighting load. The inductor is connected in series to the switching element. The drive circuit controls the switching element, converts a voltage supplied from the power supply, and is mounted on the mounting substrate. The insulating substrate is thermally connected to the switching element, and has thermal conductivity higher than the mounting substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a conductive member, a bias application device, and a control portion. The image bearing member has a photosensitive layer formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The conductive member is disposed so as to make contact with an inner peripheral surface of the image bearing member and has a dielectric property. The bias application device applies a bias including an alternating current bias to the conductive member. The control portion controls the bias application device. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing a heating-up mode in which an alternating current bias having a peak-to-peak value twice or more as large as a discharge start voltage between the conductive member and the image bearing member is applied to the conductive member to cause the surface of the image bearing member to be heated up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first conductive member, a bias application device, and a control portion, and performs image formation on a surface of the image bearing member while making the image bearing member rotate. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing a heating-up mode in which, at the time of non-image formation, in a state where the image bearing member is made to rotate at a velocity lower than that used at the time of image formation, an alternating current bias having a frequency higher than that used at the time of image formation and a peak-to-peak value twice or more as large as a discharge start voltage between the first conductive member and the image bearing member is applied to the first conductive member to cause a surface of the image bearing member to be heated up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a conductive member, a bias application device, and a control portion. The image bearing member has a photosensitive layer formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The conductive member is disposed so as to make contact with an inner peripheral surface of the image bearing member and has a dielectric property. The bias application device applies a bias including an alternating current bias to the conductive member. The control portion controls the bias application device. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing a heating-up mode in which an alternating current bias having a peak-to-peak value twice or more as large as a discharge start voltage between the conductive member and the image bearing member is applied to the conductive member to cause the surface of the image bearing member to be heated up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a first conductive member, a bias application device, and a control portion, and performs image formation on a surface of the image bearing member while making the image bearing member rotate. The image forming apparatus is capable of executing a heating-up mode in which, at the time of non-image formation, in a state where the image bearing member is made to rotate at a velocity lower than that used at the time of image formation, an alternating current bias having a frequency higher than that used at the time of image formation and a peak-to-peak value twice or more as large as a discharge start voltage between the first conductive member and the image bearing member is applied to the first conductive member to cause a surface of the image bearing member to be heated up.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an image carrying body, a first electrically conductive member, a bias application device, and a controller. The first electrically conductive member makes contact with the photosensitive layer of the image carrying body The bias application device applies a bias containing an AC bias to the first electrically conductive member. The controller controls the bias application device. The image forming apparatus can execute, while no image formation is being performed, a temperature raising mode in which, with the first electrically conductive member in contact with the image carrying body outside the image formation region, an AC bias having a peak-to-peak value twice as high as the discharge start voltage between the first electrically conductive member and the image carrying body is applied to the first electrically conductive member to raise the temperature of the surface of the image carrying body.

Abstract: An electrode material is provided. The electrode material includes a porous carbon material, wherein the porous carbon material has a half-width of diffraction intensity peak of a (100) face or a (101) face of 4 degrees or less with reference to a diffraction angle 2 theta on a basis of an X-ray diffraction method. An absolute value of a differential value of mass can be obtained when a mixture of the porous carbon material and S8 sulfur mixed at a mass ratio of 1:2 is subjected to thermal analysis, where temperature is employed as a parameter, has a value of more than 0 at 450° C. and a value of 1.9 or more at 400° C. A battery and method of manufacture are also provided.

Abstract: A secondary cell has a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, and the positive electrode contains insoluble sulfur.

Abstract: A toner container removably installed into an image forming apparatus body. The toner container includes a pouch member that contains a new toner therein and can be turned inside out, and a cover member that covers an outside of the pouch member and includes an inlet through which a waste toner flows in, the inlet being formed opposite to a side of the cover member from which the new toner contained in the pouch member is discharged. After the new toner contained in the pouch member is discharged, the pouch member is turned inside out, and the waste toner flows from the inlet into the pouch member.

Abstract: A lighting system according to embodiments includes a first light source, a second light source, a first lighting circuit, a second lighting circuit, a signal input unit, and a control circuit. The first light source has a predetermined color temperature. The second light source has a color temperature which is different from that of the first light source. The first lighting circuit lights the first light source. The second lighting circuit lights the second light source. The signal input unit receives an external signal. The control circuit includes a first light source lighting control cycle which performs a predetermined lighting control of the first light source, and a second light source lighting control cycle which performs a predetermined lighting control of the second light source, controls the first and second lighting circuits so as to start the lighting control.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a control circuit and a first circuit. The control circuit switches between a current control mode and a voltage control mode according to an inputted dimming signal and thus dims a light-emitting element. In the current control mode the control circuit controls an output current supplied to the light-emitting element to a target current, and in the voltage control mode the control circuit controls an output voltage supplied to the light-emitting element to a target voltage. The first circuit detects the output current and the output voltage, and sets the target voltage at which switching between the current control mode and the voltage control mode is carried out as a first voltage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a lighting device includes a control circuit that includes a threshold for a case where a pair of the illumination lamps are connected in series between a positive output end and a negative output end of a power supply circuit, and a threshold for a case where one illumination lamp is connected between the positive output end and the negative output end of the power supply circuit. The control circuit determines the connected lamp number of the illumination lamps to a direct-current power supply device based on a voltage between the positive output end and the negative output end of the power supply circuit and a voltage between a non-potential connection end and the positive output end or the negative output end, and selects the threshold corresponding to the connected lamp number to control the direct-current power supply device.

Abstract: The present invention resolves the problem by using a multilayer-structured carbon material, as a nonaqueous electrolytic solution secondary battery negative electrode, which satisfies the following (a) and (b): (a) (Void fraction calculated from DBP oil absorption)/(Void fraction calculated from tapping density) is less than 1.01; and (b) Surface oxygen content (O/C) determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 1.5 atomic % or more.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a lighting circuit includes a first power supply circuit, a first detecting circuit, a first control circuit, and a first protecting circuit. The first power supply circuit is supplied with power from a first power supply and outputs a direct current flowing in a first direction. The first detecting circuit detects a first detection value of an electric current flowing between the first power supply circuit and an output terminal. The first control circuit compares a first detection value detected by the first detecting circuit with a reference value and controls the first power supply circuit. The first protecting circuit is connected to the first detecting circuit and reduces an absolute value of the first detection value if an electric current flows in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A coaxial connector comprises a receptacle having an engagement hole formed inside and a plug engaging with the receptacle along an engagement axis, wherein the receptacle includes an annular receptacle external contact of which an inner peripheral surface is exposed inside the engagement hole, and a receptacle central contact having a receptacle central contact portion exposed in a direction perpendicular to the engagement axis inside the engagement hole, wherein the plug includes a plug external contact engaging with the inside of the engagement hole of the receptacle so as to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the annular receptacle external contact, and a cantilever-shaped plug central contact having an extension extending in a direction perpendicular to the engagement axis and a plug central contact portion positioned so as to be in contact with the receptacle central contact portion inside the engagement hole.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus according to an embodiment includes a switching element, an inductor, a drive circuit, a mounting substrate, and an insulating substrate. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a lighting load. The inductor is connected in series to the switching element. The drive circuit controls the switching element, converts a voltage supplied from the power supply, and is mounted on the mounting substrate. The insulating substrate is thermally connected to the switching element, and has thermal conductivity higher than the mounting substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that has a monochrome mode and a full color mode as image forming modes, includes: a power supply unit configured to supply power thereto; a main power switch configured to turn on and off the power supply unit; a mode switching unit configured to selectively and manually be switched between the monochrome mode and the full color mode, wherein the main power switch and the mode switching unit are integrally formed as one mode switch; a power supply interrupting unit configured to interrupt power supply to a part that is necessary to form an image in a mode other than the monochrome mode, when the mode switch is set to the monochrome mode.