Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device that forms an image on a recording medium with a powdery material, the image being sized so as to extend beyond an edge of the recording medium; a collecting device that collects the material that has extended off the recording medium as a result of the image forming device forming the image; and a restricting unit that controls the image forming device in such a manner that the image forming device reduces an amount of use of the material in a region of the image that extends off the recording medium to a larger degree on an outer side of the image than a side of the image near the recording medium.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a front surface; a back surface; a first temperature-sensitive element and a second temperature-sensitive element disposed side by side between the front surface and the back surface; an infrared-ray absorber; and a heat-transfer inhibitor. When the temperature sensor is exposed to infrared rays that have propagated from both of a front-surface side and a back-surface side of the temperature sensor, the infrared absorber heats up by absorbing the infrared rays and transfers heat to the first temperature-sensitive element and the heat-transfer inhibiter inhibits heat transfer to the second temperature-sensitive element caused by the infrared rays.

Abstract: Provided is a temperature detecting device including a first heat sensing element that is disposed to face an image holding member, a second heat sensing element, an infrared shielding unit that shields the second heat sensing element against radiation with infrared rays, and a substrate with flexibility that holds the first heat sensing element, the second heat sensing element, and the infrared shielding unit, wherein the infrared shielding unit is disposed in a space where the developer is dispersed, and the substrate is bent-disposed such that the first heat sensing element is disposed on an upstream side of the infrared shielding unit in a direction where infrared rays are radiated, the second heat sensing element is disposed on a downstream side of the infrared shielding unit in the direction where infrared rays are radiated, and the substrate is disposed between the image holding member and the infrared shielding unit.

Abstract: The invention provides highly transparent single crystalline AlN layers as device substrates for light emitting diodes in order to improve the output and operational degradation of light emitting devices. The highly transparent single crystalline AlN layers have a refractive index in the a-axis direction in the range of 2.250 to 2.400 and an absorption coefficient less than or equal to 15 cm-1 at a wavelength of 265 nm. The invention also provides a method for growing highly transparent single crystalline A1N layers, the method including the steps of maintaining the amount of Al contained in wall deposits formed in a flow channel of a reactor at a level lower than or equal to 30% of the total amount of aluminum fed into the reactor, and maintaining the wall temperature in the flow channel at less than or equal to 1200° C.

Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a front surface; a back surface; a first temperature-sensitive element and a second temperature-sensitive element disposed side by side between the front surface and the back surface; an infrared-ray absorber; and a heat-transfer inhibitor. When the temperature sensor is exposed to infrared rays that have propagated from both of a front-surface side and a back-surface side of the temperature sensor, the infrared absorber heats up by absorbing the infrared rays and transfers heat to the first temperature-sensitive element and the heat-transfer inhibiter inhibits heat transfer to the second temperature-sensitive element caused by the infrared rays.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a cylinder member that rotates in a circumferential direction thereof; a circulating member that circularly moves in a circumferential direction thereof and is pressed against the cylinder member; a heat source that heats a recording medium holding an unfixed toner image and nipped between the cylinder member and the circulating member; and a pressing member provided inside the circulating member, and including a nip forming portion that presses the circulating member against the cylinder member to form a nip region therebetween, and a thrusting portion that thrusts, upstream of the nip forming portion in a moving direction of the circulating member, and from inside the circulating member toward the cylinder member, the circulating member before being pressed against the cylinder member such that the thrust is greater in end portions of the circulating member than in a central portion of the circulating member.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes in order from an object side to an image side a first lens unit having a positive refracting power; a second lens unit having a negative refracting power; a third lens unit having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens unit having a positive refracting power. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, each of distances between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, between the second lens unit and the third lens unit, and between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit is changed, and the first lens unit is moved. The first lens unit includes a lens component having positive refracting power, a total number of lens components included in the first lens unit is one, and the third lens unit includes five lens elements.

Abstract: Provided is an external structure configured to be attached to or detached from an electronic device having a concave portion formed on a surface of a housing, and a connection connector provided in a position of the concave portion receding from the surface of the housing, the concave portion having a cross-sectional shape enabling locking of the external structure, the external structure including a first fitting unit configured to be fitted to the connection connector.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotating fixing unit, a switching unit, and a control unit. The rotating fixing unit has a surface, the surface fixing a toner image on a recording medium by contacting the recording medium. The switching unit switches between transportation directions in which the recording sheet is transported such that an orientation of a predetermined side of the recording medium with respect to the fixing unit matches either an orientation corresponding to a first direction in which the central axis of the fixing unit extends or an orientation corresponding to a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The control unit controls the switching unit such that the recording medium is transported in a direction corresponding to a smaller one of integration values obtained along the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatable and heated by a heater; an endless belt member that is rotatable while being in contact with the fixing member; and a pressing member that is disposed inside of the belt member. The pressing member presses the fixing member with the belt member therebetween so as to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the belt member, the fixing nip allowing a recording medium to pass therethrough to fix a toner image onto the recording medium. In an output region of the fixing nip from which the recording medium is output from the fixing nip, a curvature of a cross-sectional shape of an end portion of the belt member in a width direction is larger than a curvature of a cross-sectional shape of a middle portion of the belt member in the width direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a rotatable heating member including a heat source and a pressure-applying member pressed against the heating member. The pressure-applying member includes a band-shaped member that extends in a width direction of a medium that passes through a fixing area, a support member opposed to the heating member with the band-shaped member disposed therebetween, and a pressing member including a base-end portion supported by the support member and a free-end portion that extends toward the fixing area. The pressing member has urging portions arranged with intervals therebetween in the width direction. The urging portions are elastically deformable in accordance with a thickness of the medium when the medium passes through the fixing area. The free-end portion urges the band-shaped member toward the heating member so that the band-shaped member is pressed against the heating member.

Abstract: A heating device including a heating member that heats a recording medium; a pressure unit that applies pressure to the heating member; and a rotation member that is mounted to the heating member. The rotation member is rotated upon receiving an external force and the heating member is rotated along with a rotation of the rotation member by a frictional force between the heating member and the rotation member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a pressing member that is rotatably held and provides a pressure acting in one direction; a heating member that is rotatably held, faces the pressing member, and includes a substantially cylindrical member and a heating unit, the substantially cylindrical member receiving the pressure, the heating unit being provided inside the substantially cylindrical member, the heating member fixing a toner image on a sheet with the pressure and heat; a drive source that outputs a driving force with which the heating member is rotated; and a transmission member having a space that receives an end of the substantially cylindrical member with a gap interposed therebetween, the transmission member having an inner circumferential surface that comes into contact with the end of the substantially cylindrical member in the space when the substantially cylindrical member receives the pressure, the transmission member transmitting the driving force to the heating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes: a cylinder member that rotates in a circumferential direction thereof; a circulating member that circularly moves in a circumferential direction thereof and is pressed against the cylinder member; a heat source that heats a recording medium holding an unfixed toner image and nipped between the cylinder member and the circulating member; and a pressing member provided inside the circulating member, and including a nip forming portion that presses the circulating member against the cylinder member to form a nip region therebetween, and a thrusting portion that thrusts, upstream of the nip forming portion in a moving direction of the circulating member, and from inside the circulating member toward the cylinder member, the circulating member before being pressed against the cylinder member such that the thrust is greater in end portions of the circulating member than in a central portion of the circulating member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member that is rotatable and heated by a heater; an endless belt member that is rotatable while being in contact with the fixing member; and a pressing member that is disposed inside of the belt member. The pressing member presses the fixing member with the belt member therebetween so as to form a fixing nip between the fixing member and the belt member, the fixing nip allowing a recording medium to pass therethrough to fix a toner image onto the recording medium. In an output region of the fixing nip from which the recording medium is output from the fixing nip, a curvature of a cross-sectional shape of an end portion of the belt member in a width direction is larger than a curvature of a cross-sectional shape of a middle portion of the belt member in the width direction.

Abstract: The eyepiece optical system of the invention is characterized by comprising, in order from the display plane side on which images being viewed are formed toward the exit side, a first lens component of positive refracting power, a reflecting member having only one reflective surface, a second lens component of negative refracting power and a third lens component of positive refracting power. The lens component here means a lens block that, in an optical path involved, contacts air at only two surfaces: the display-plane-side refractive surface and the exit-side refractive surface.

Abstract: The invention provides an imaging optical system comprising, in order from an object side to an image side thereof, a first lens group of positive refracting power, a second lens group having positive or negative refracting power and a third lens group of positive refracting power. The optical system includes an aperture stop located between an object-side surface in the first lens group and an object-side surface in the second lens group. The lens on the most object side of the first lens group and the lens on the most image side of the third lens group remain constantly fixed, and upon focusing from a far distance to a near distance, only the second lens group moves axially. The third lens group comprises a front lens subgroup of positive refracting power located on the object side and a rear lens subgroup of negative refracting power located on the image side, with the largest axial air separation in the third lens group interposed between them.

Abstract: An interface apparatus includes a main unit, an array of interface modules, driver circuitry, and a remote unit. The main unit outputs files to an output unit, is detachably couplable to interface modules and assigns content identifiers to interface modules. The array presents an image to the user and each interface module can be engaged by a user. The driver circuitry is adapted to drive the array to present an image to the user based upon the user's engagement with an interface module. The remote unit is coupled to the output unit and can be detachably coupled to the interface module. Each interface module in the array of interfaces is adapted to be detached from the main unit and retain the image it was previously driven by the driver circuitry to present.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods for use in remote controlling devices including consumer electronic devices. Some embodiments provide a remote control system that comprises a processor, a touch screen display coupled with and receiving display control signals from the display driver such that the touch screen display displays one of a plurality of control views with a fixed number of function buttons displayed in each of the plurality of control views, and a wireless transmitter coupled with the processor that wirelessly transmits function signals in response to a detection of a selection of one of the function buttons.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit G1 having a positive refracting power, a second lens unit G2 having a negative refracting power, a third lens unit G3 having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens unit G4 having a positive refracting power. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, distances between the lens units change. The third lens unit includes a first cemented lens component having a concave image-side surface on the image side, and a second cemented lens component having a concave object-side surface on the object side, which is disposed immediately after the image side of the first cemented lens component. The first cemented lens component includes a positive lens, and a negative lens having a concave image-side surface which is disposed on the image side of the positive lens.