Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a polygon mirror that deflects a light beam, the image forming apparatus includes: an optical sensor arranged such that the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror enters the optical sensor; and a hardware processor that measures an output level of the optical sensor and calculates, as a remaining life of the polygon mirror, an operation time of the polygon mirror to when the output level becomes a threshold value in a case of assuming that the output level ongoingly changes at a rate of change over time that is a change amount of the output level per unit operation time of the polygon mirror, using the measured output level.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a touch panel, a display control unit configured to perform control so that a moving object and a different object from the moving object are displayed on a display screen of the touch panel, wherein a display position of the moving object can be moved, and a control unit configured to set a response region for receiving a touch operation with respect to the moving object, wherein, in a case where the moving object overlaps the different object, the control unit reduces the response region of the moving object.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus: acquires, before start of current supply to electric elements including heater, information indicating rated power of the heater and total consumption power of the electric elements excluding the heater; subtracts the total consumption power from upper power limit of the apparatus, and calculates maximum power not exceeding the rated power and remaining power thus subtracted; obtains duty ratio based on assumption of current supply corresponding to the maximum power according to pulse modulation, and determines whether the duty ratio falls within predetermined range; and controls, when the duty ratio falls within the range, drive circuit to supply alternating current by pulse modulation method, and when the duty ratio falls outside the range, to supply the alternating current by phase control method that temporarily interrupts the supply of the alternating current to the heater in half cycles of the alternating current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus: acquires, before start of current supply to electric elements including heater, information indicating rated power of the heater and total consumption power of the electric elements excluding the heater; subtracts the total consumption power from upper power limit of the apparatus, and calculates maximum power not exceeding the rated power and remaining power thus subtracted; obtains duty ratio based on assumption of current supply corresponding to the maximum power according to pulse modulation, and determines whether the duty ratio falls within predetermined range; and controls, when the duty ratio falls within the range, drive circuit to supply alternating current by pulse modulation method, and when the duty ratio falls outside the range, to supply the alternating current by phase control method that temporarily interrupts the supply of the alternating current to the heater in half cycles of the alternating current.

Abstract: A technique for strobe shooting using automatic irradiation direction control. A strobe device includes a light emission section that emits light, and a drive unit that changes an irradiation direction of light emitted from the light emission section. Exposure conditions set to the camera are notified to the strobe device, and light emission conditions are set according to the exposure conditions. The irradiation direction of light emitted from the light emission section is determined based on the exposure conditions and the light emission conditions.

Abstract: A lighting device that stores a rotation angle of a head unit, on which a user's intention is properly reflected. The lighting device includes a main unit, a head unit that includes a light emission section and is rotatable with respect to the main unit, a bounce angle storage circuit that stores a rotation angle of the head unit with respect to the main unit, a bounce angle detection circuit that detects whether or not the head unit is rotated with respect to the main unit, and a rotation angle of the head unit, and a storage button. When rotation of the head unit is detected, rotation angles detected by the bounce angle detection circuit last time are stored in the bounce angle storage circuit in response to a predetermined operation for releasing the storage button from a depressed state.

Abstract: An image pickup control apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an instruction unit configured to instruct an image pickup unit to shoot an image in accordance with an operation of a photographer, a first display processing unit configured to display the image shot by the image pickup unit in accordance with an instruction by the instruction unit, an obtaining unit configured to obtain position information input by the photographer with respect to the image displayed by the first display processing unit, a second display processing unit configured to display options based on the position information obtained by the obtaining unit, and an assistance unit configured to perform an assistance for next shooting based on an option selected by the photographer from among the options displayed by the second display processing unit.

Abstract: A technique for strobe shooting using automatic irradiation direction control. A strobe device includes a light emission section that emits light, and a drive unit that changes an irradiation direction of light emitted from the light emission section. Exposure conditions set to the camera are notified to the strobe device, and light emission conditions are set according to the exposure conditions. The irradiation direction of light emitted from the light emission section is determined based on the exposure conditions and the light emission conditions.

Abstract: A power system stabilization method includes: receiving a power command value from a power control center that monitors a power system; transmitting the power command value to a power supply device; causing the power supply device to supply power to the power system according to the power command value; generating a prediction command value according to past power command values received from the power control center, the prediction command value being a prediction value of a power command value to be transmitted from the power control center next after the power command value; transmitting the prediction command value to a power supply device; causing the power supply device to supply power to the power system according to the power prediction command value; receiving the next power command value from the power control center; transmitting the next power command value to the power supply device.

Abstract: A setting unit sets a smaller limitation angle for rotation of a second case rotated by a driving unit relative to a first case when information output from a sensor disposed in a back surface of a first case indicates that an object does not exist in a certain range when compared with a case where the information output from the sensor indicates that an object exists in the certain range.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of obtaining a high AF accuracy while reducing unnecessary power consumption and a release delay when photographing while detecting a focusing state using auxiliary light. The image pickup apparatus is capable of mounting a light emission device with which a first light emitting section of which an irradiation direction can be changed with respect to a body of the light emission device and a second light emitting section of which an irradiation direction is fixed to the body are provided. An obtaining unit obtains information about the irradiation direction of the first light emitting section. A control unit controls one of the first light emitting section and the second light emitting section on the basis of the information about the irradiation direction obtained as a light emitting section for irradiating with auxiliary light at the time when the focus detection unit performs focus detection.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a touch panel, a display control unit configured to perform control so that a moving object and a different object from the moving object are displayed on a display screen of the touch panel, wherein a display position of the moving object can be moved, and a control unit configured to set a response region for receiving a touch operation with respect to the moving object, wherein, in a case where the moving object overlaps the different object, the control unit reduces the response region of the moving object.

Abstract: An image pickup control apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an instruction unit configured to instruct an image pickup unit to shoot an image in accordance with an operation of a photographer, a first display processing unit configured to display the image shot by the image pickup unit in accordance with an instruction by the instruction unit, an obtaining unit configured to obtain position information input by the photographer with respect to the image displayed by the first display processing unit, a second display processing unit configured to display options based on the position information obtained by the obtaining unit, and an assistance unit configured to perform an assistance for next shooting based on an option selected by the photographer from among the options displayed by the second display processing unit.

Abstract: A setting unit sets a smaller limitation angle for rotation of a second case rotated by a driving unit relative to a first case when information output from a sensor disposed in a back surface of a first case indicates that an object does not exist in a certain range when compared with a case where the information output from the sensor indicates that an object exists in the certain range.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes: a resonant circuit provided with a coil heating a workpiece inductively and a capacitor, the coil and the capacitor being coupled in parallel with each other; a switching element coupled in series with the resonant circuit; a power supply which applies to the resonant circuit, a direct-current input voltage whose instantaneous value can be changed with the lapse of time; and a power controller which controls power to the workpiece by turning the switching element ON at a certain time and changing an ON period of the switching element, and the power controller is characterized by turning the switching element ON with a delay of an integral multiple of a resonant period of the resonant circuit if a value of power to the workpiece is equal to or lower than a first threshold which is predetermined.

Abstract: A method including: setting a weighting function based on an amount of change in impedance of a control target; and determining, for a power controller, a transfer function composed of a transfer function of an internal model obtainable by performing Laplace transform on the voltage reference value and a transfer function of a partial controller, the transfer function of the partial controller being for outputting the control output after receiving, as an input, an output of the transfer function of the internal model, wherein the determining includes determining the transfer function of the partial controller using an H?control theory so as to reduce (i) a first amount of control obtainable by multiplying the control output and the weighting function and (ii) a second amount of control that is an output of the transfer function of the internal model.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having: a power source applying alternating current voltage to the magnetizing coil; a demagnetizing coil switchable between a conductive state and a cutoff state, and when in the conductive state, cancelling out a portion of a magnetic flux produced by the magnetizing coil; a contact switch and a semiconductor switch electrically connected in parallel, and, in combination, bringing the demagnetizing coil into the conductive state or the cutoff state; and a control unit opening or closing the switches separately. The control unit: opens or closes the semiconductor switch in synchronization with a zero-crossing of the alternating current voltage at least when the contact switch is open; opens or closes the contact switch only when the semiconductor switch is closed; and opens the semiconductor switch when the demagnetizing coil brought into the conductive state by the contact switch needs to be maintained in the conductive state.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction heating apparatus comprises: a resonance circuit that includes a inductor and a capacitor; a direct-current electric power supply; and a switching element performing ON and OFF switching of electric power supplied to the resonance circuit by the direct-current electric power supply; performs intermittent control of the electric power supply by controlling the ON and OFF switching at regular intervals, and by performing control to stop the electric power supply when not controlling the ON and OFF switching, wherein during the intermittent control, the switching control unit performs gradual control such that, upon beginning the control of the ON and OFF switching, the electric power supply gradually increases to reach a target value, and upon stopping the control of the ON and OFF switching, the electric power supply gradually decreases from the target value until stopping, such that the gradual decrease involves fewer steps than the gradual increase.

Abstract: A power system stabilization method includes: receiving a power command value from a power control center that monitors a power system; transmitting the power command value to a power supply device; causing the power supply device to supply power to the power system according to the power command value; generating a prediction command value according to past power command values received from the power control center, the prediction command value being a prediction value of a power command value to be transmitted from the power control center next after the power command value; transmitting the prediction command value to a power supply device; causing the power supply device to supply power to the power system according to the power prediction command value; receiving the next power command value from the power control center; transmitting the next power command value to the power supply device.

Abstract: A method for designing a control apparatus includes: determining first, second and third threshold values; setting a first weighting function for calculating a first controlled variable by being multiplied by a difference between a control target value and an output value of a storage battery, a second weighting function for calculating a second controlled variable by being multiplied by the output value of the storage battery, and a third weighting function for calculating a third controlled variable by being multiplied by an integrated value of the output value of the storage battery; and determining a transfer function of the control apparatus in accordance with an H-infinity control theory such that the first controlled variable, the second controlled variable and the third controlled variable are respectively smaller than the first, second and third threshold values.