Abstract: An image forming method includes: exposing a surface of an image carrier with a light based on an image pattern including an image portion and a non-image portion to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image pattern. The image portion is made up of a plurality of pixels. Some of the pixels that make up the image portion are exposed with light of a first output value that is higher than a prescribed optical output value when the entire pixels corresponding to the image portion are exposed over a prescribed time period.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that includes a first image forming section configured to form an auxiliary layer, a second image forming section configured to form an image layer, and a controller. The first and the second image forming sections each include an image supporting member configured to support a latent image on a surface thereof and a developer supporting member configured to support, on a surface thereof, a developer. The controller is configured to control the first and the second image forming sections to allow a first velocity and a second velocity to be different from each other. The first velocity is a traveling velocity of the surface of the developer supporting member in the first image forming section, and the second velocity is a traveling velocity of the surface of the developer supporting member in the second image forming section.

Abstract: A layer thickness regulating member includes: an opposing portion having an opposing surface to a peripheral surface of a developer carrying member; and a layer thickness regulating portion, projected from the opposing surface toward the developer carrying member, for regulating a layer thickness of a developer carried on the developer carrying member. The layer thickness regulating portion is integrally molded with the opposing portion. The layer thickness regulating member is, after being molded in a metal mold, separated by being pushed from a side opposite from the opposing portion of the layer thickness regulating member when the layer thickness regulating member is separated from the metal mold.

Abstract: A developing device including a housing, a developing roller rotatably provided to the housing, a layer thickness regulation blade contacting the developing roller, and a seal member arranged between the housing and each end of the developing roller, wherein the layer thickness regulation blade includes a blade main body extending along an axial direction of the developing roller, and a blade rubber part protruding from a surface of the blade main body facing the developing roller and contacting the developing roller, wherein an end surface of the blade rubber part in the axial direction is in contact with an inner end surface of the seal member in the axial direction, and wherein a suppression part configured to suppress a strength of flow of the developer is provided at a corner part between the blade rubber part and the seal member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing sleeve having a plurality of grooves, and a magnetic field generating portion configured to be disposed on an inner side of the developing sleeve and including at least a drawing-up pole and a cut pole. The magnetic field generating portion is configured to form. a Fr attenuation area and a F? reverse area between a peak of a magnetic flux density of the drawing-up pole and a peak of a magnetic flux density of the cut pole. Fr attenuates toward the cut pole side from the drawing-up pole side in the Fr attenuation area and F? is oriented towards an opposite direction to a direction of rotation of the developing sleeve in the F? reverse area. A pitch interval of the plurality of grooves is shorter than a length of the F? reverse area in the direction of rotation of the developing sleeve.

Abstract: A developer conveying device includes a rotatable developer conveying body including a shaft portion and a blade portion provided on the shaft portion for conveying a developer. The developer conveying device further includes a developer removing portion having a developer removing fin that contacts the developer conveying body in a counter direction with respect to a rotating direction of the developer conveying body.

Abstract: A detecting system for detecting a developer remainder in a developer container accommodating a developer to be used for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an image bearing member. The detecting system includes first, second and third electrode members provided in the developer container, an AC voltage source for applying an AC voltage to the third electrode member, a first electrostatic capacity detector for detecting a first electrostatic capacity between the first electrode member and the third electrode member, and a second electrostatic capacity detector for detecting a second electrostatic capacity between the second electrode member and the third electrode member. In addition, a developer remainder detector corrects the first electrostatic capacity on the basis of the second electrostatic capacity and detects a developer remainder of the developer container from a result of correction of the first electrostatic capacity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, an image bearing member, and a development cartridge which has a developer bearing member that is detachable and attachable against the apparatus body. In addition, a supply portion supplies a developer to the development cartridge and is configured to connect and separate from the development cartridge in the apparatus body in the vertical direction, and a movement mechanism moves the development cartridge away from a surface of the image bearing member by supporting the development cartridge and moving it from an attached position in a substantially vertical direction. A seal portion is configured around a connecting portion between the supply portion and the development cartridge and can seal the connecting portion by compressing with movement of the development cartridge by the movement mechanism.

Abstract: A developer storage container includes a container main body, a tubular portion projecting from the container main body, and a rotary member extending from the container main body to the tubular portion. The rotary member includes a first section located in the container main body and a second section located in the tubular portion. A first conveying member for conveying developer in a first conveying direction is arranged on the second section of a rotary shaft, and a second conveying member for conveying the developer in a second conveying direction is arranged radially outwardly of the first conveying member around the first section. A first flexible member radially extending to a side outward of the second conveying member and a second flexible member radially extending to a side outward of the second conveying member and having a shorter length than the first flexible member are mounted on the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A development device includes a development case, a first agitating/conveying member and a second agitating/conveying member. The first agitating/conveying member is arranged below the second agitating/conveying member to convey the developer in a first direction. The second agitating/conveying member conveys the developer in a second direction as an opposite direction to the first direction to supply the developer to the developer carrier. The development case includes a first conveyance chamber, a second conveyance chamber, a first communicating portion communicating end parts of the first conveyance chamber and second conveyance chamber in the first direction, and a second communicating portion communicating end parts of the first conveyance chamber and second conveyance chamber in the second direction.

Abstract: A transfer device includes a nip forming member to contact a surface of an image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a pressing device, and a nip pressure changing device. The pressing device includes a plurality of elastic members, to produce a contact pressure between the nip forming member and the image bearing member according to a restoring force of at least one of the elastic members upon deformation of the elastic member. The nip pressure changing device changes an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic member between at least two stages to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip. While the contact pressure is produced by one of the elastic members, the nip pressure changing device changes the amount of elastic deformation of a different elastic member, different from the one that produces the contact pressure, to change the nip pressure of the transfer nip.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image bearing member; a transfer portion; a first electrostatic cleaning portion including a first electroconductive member; a second electrostatic cleaning portion including a second electroconductive member; a first detecting portion for outputting first information corresponding to a first current passing through the first electroconductive member; a second detecting portion for outputting second information corresponding to a second current passing through the second electroconductive member; and a controller for controlling, based on the first information and the second information, a transfer voltage so that the voltage is decreased when a decrease amount of the first current is larger than that of the second current and so that the voltage is increased when the decrease amount of the second current is larger than that of the first current.

Abstract: A heater of the present invention includes jointed heat generating resistors having a positive temperature characteristic of resistance and provided between a first conductive element and a second conductive element on a substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and a plurality of heating blocks provided in the longitudinal direction, each of which is a set of the first conductive element, the second conductive element, and the heat generating resistor, and power supplied to at least one of the plurality of heating blocks can be controlled independent of other heating blocks.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a rotating mechanism for rotating a belt unit in a direction for returning a belt into a predetermined zone; a displacing mechanism for permitting a first supporting member to be displaced in a direction for substantially equalizing forces, from the first supporting member, urging the belt toward a rotatable heating member at opposite end portions of the first supporting member with respect to a belt widthwise direction and to permit a second supporting member to be displaced in a direction for substantially equalizing forces, from the second supporting member, urging the belt toward the rotatable heating member at opposite end portions of the second supporting member; and a limiting mechanism for limiting the amount of the displacement permitted by the displacing mechanism within a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes an endless belt for heating a toner image on a sheet in a nip. An inner surface of the belt is coated with a lubricant. The apparatus also includes a lubricant; a driving roller cooperative with the belt to form the nip, an urging member provided inside the belt to urge the belt toward the roller, a first regulating portion for regulating the position of the belt and configured to be abutted by one end edge of the belt, a first heat sink provided on the first regulating portion to cool the first regulating portion, a second regulating portion for regulating the position of the belt and configured to be abutted by the other end edge of the belt, and a second heat sink provided on the second regulating portion to cool the second regulating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided in which an application of air for separating a sheet from a fixing section can be performed in a stable manner with an appropriate air quantity and air velocity. In the image forming apparatus, a control section sets, on the basis of an individual difference of a separation fan motor, a fan motor drive condition for a sheet passing period in which the sheet passes through a nip portion N, and the control section maintains the fan motor drive condition thus set throughout the sheet passing period.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an image information obtainer that obtains image information, a gradation sequence processor that applies multiple types of gradation sequence processing to the image information, and a toner image formation device that forms a toner image based on the image information. A fixing device is provided to fix the toner image onto a recording medium in a fixing process. A temperature controller is also provided to change a start-up temperature of the fixing device before the fixing process. The start-up temperature is changed in accordance with inclusion of a halftone process and a type of the gradation sequence processing applied to the image information.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing device including a heating unit that includes a circularly moving heating belt, and a pressurizing roller that presses an external face of the heating belt, the fixing device fixing a toner image on a sheet onto the sheet by nipping the sheet between the heating belt and the pressurizing roller and by heating and pressurizing the sheet transported with the toner image being held.

Abstract: A fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a sheet includes a cylindrical film; a heater having a first surface contacting an inner surface of the film; an opposed member forming a press-contact portion with the film therebetween; a supporting member for supporting a second surface of the heater opposite the first surface; and a heat conduction member contacting the second surface. In a generatrix direction of the film, an end portion of a contact region between the heat conduction member and the second surface is at or inside an end portion of the press-contact portion. In a region from an end portion of the contact region to an outside of an end portion of the press-contact portion with respect to the direction, the supporting member includes a first region not contacting the second surface and a second region contacting the second surface outside the first region.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a pressing member, a guiding member, a cap member, an elastic member and a detecting mechanism. The pressing member includes a pressing face pressing the fixing belt to a side of the pressuring member. The fixing belt includes a bulging part arranged at the downstream side from a fixing nip in a conveying direction. The cap member includes a facing part facing to the bulging part. Before the pressuring member comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt, a gap is arranged between the bulging part and facing part. When the pressuring member comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt, the bulging part bulges toward an external diameter side of the fixing belt to fill up the gap and the cap member is held by an end part of the fixing belt via the elastic member.

Abstract: A fixing member manufacturing method includes: a first step of externally fitting a resin tube around an elastic material; and a second step of squeezing an excessive adhesive between the elastic material and the resin tube. The second step includes: a step of externally fitting, around the resin tube in a longitudinal end side, a ring member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the resin tube externally fitted around the elastic material; and a step of moving the ring member from the longitudinal end side toward another longitudinal end side of the resin tube while bringing the ring member into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the resin tube by air pressure.

Abstract: An image fixing apparatus is provided including a pressing roller, a fixing belt rotatably disposed such that an outer circumferential surface of the fixing belt contacts the pressing roller, and a rotating bush to support rotation of the fixing belt. The fixing belt includes a load support member arranged in an axial direction, a heating layer formed on an outer circumferential surface of the load support member to generate heat, and an electrode layer provided with an first portion axially contacting the heating layer at an axial end of the load support member, the electrode layer transferring electric energy to the heating layer. An inner end of the rotating bush axially extends to an inner side of the electrode layer such that the electrode layer is supported by the rotating bush. The image fixing apparatus may uniformly form a fixing nip and improve durability of the fixing belt.

Abstract: In the present invention, a one-way clutch has an input gear, a planet gear provided in the input gear, an output gear, a stopper wall. When the input gear rotates in the backward direction, the stopper wall is separated from the planet gear. Wherein any one of the planet gear and the input gear has a boss being coaxial with the center of the other of the planet gear and the input gear, and the other of the planet gear and the input gear has a groove in an elongated hole shape which the boss fits in. When the input gear rotates in the forward direction, the boss slides to one end of the groove, and the planet gear is wedged between the stopper wall and the inner teeth. When the input gear rotates in the backward direction, the boss slides to the other end of the groove so that the planet gear separates from the locking member.

Abstract: A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to apply heat to a recording medium bearing an unfixed image thereon, a heat source to heat the fixing member, and a rotatable pressing member pressing against the fixing member forming a nip therebetween. A driving source rotates and drives the fixing member and the pressing member. An overheat safety device has a relay to open and close a power supply path connected to the heat source. A temperature detector is connected to both the relay and the control unit to detect temperature of the fixing member. The overheat safety device turns off the relay and cuts off power supply to the heat source when the fixing member is overheated. The fixing member is allowed to radiate heat and cool down when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is more than a prescribed level.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that enables to prolong lives of device parts of which lives are limited by preventing unnecessary returns from the power saving mode, and reduce unnecessary power consumption. A first living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus to input a trigger. A second living body detection unit detects a living body that approaches the apparatus for other purposes. A switching unit switches a mode from a first electric power mode to a second electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit does not detect the living body, and maintains the first electric power mode when the first living body detection unit detects the living body and when the second living body detection unit detects the living body.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a control unit causes an image forming unit to form a positional deviation correction pattern, to sandwich a black developer image between two color developer images of a same color, and to superpose the black developer image on one of the two color developer images of the same color in a state where color deviation occurs between developer images of a plurality of different colors.

Abstract: A fixing device thermally fixes an unfixed toner image onto a recording sheet and includes: a rotatable heating element that is endless and includes a resistive heating layer that generates heat upon application of voltage; a power source for placing voltage across the resistive heating layer; an ammeter for measuring the electric current flowing through the resistive heating layer, and a controller for determining whether the resistive heating layer has a scratch by monitoring an amount of change between a value of electric current that flows through the resistive heating in absence of a scratch and a value of electric current actually measured by the ammeter. The resistive heating layer exhibits resistivity anisotropy satisfying R1<R2, where R1 and R2 denote a volume resistivity of the resistive heating layer in a direction of voltage application and that in a direction perpendicular to the direction of voltage application, respectively.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring rotation body, a drive source, a heat source, detected members, rotation detecting parts, a storing part and a controlling part. The storing part stores standard condition for occurrence difficulty of a slip between the fixing belt and detected members co-rotated with rotation of the fixing belt. The controlling part stops heating of the fixing belt by the heat source on a condition that both rotation detecting parts do not detect the rotation of the detected members within a first time when the drive source rotates the fixing belt in a situation unsatisfying the standard condition. The controlling part stops the heating on a condition that at least one of the rotation detecting parts does not detect the rotation of the detected members within a second time when the drive source rotates the fixing belt in a situation satisfying the standard condition.

Abstract: A fixing device capable of easily detecting a wrap jam of a recording sheet without increasing costs. A fixing roller fixes a toner image on a recording medium under heating control. A central thermistor and an end thermistor detect first and second temperatures of the fixing roller in respective sheet-passing and non-sheet-passing areas. A first temperature difference-detecting circuit compares a temperature difference between the first and second detected temperatures and a first threshold and outputs a first comparison result. A second temperature difference-detecting circuit compares the temperature difference and a second threshold larger than the first threshold and outputs a second comparison result. A switching circuit selects one of the first or second comparison results according to a switching signal from a CPU, and the CPU controls heating of the fixing roller based on the selected comparison result.

Abstract: A driving force transmission device includes a first driving member, a second driving member, a moving member, and a connection drive section. The connection drive section separates, in conjunction with movement of the moving member in a first direction, the first driving member and the second driving member respectively from a first rotating member and a second rotating member in such a manner as to cause a time difference between a separating operation for separating the first driving member from the first rotating member and a separating operation for separating the second driving member from the second rotating member.

Abstract: The high-voltage power supply apparatus includes an inductor to be applied with a voltage when a driving unit is driven by a drive signal at a predetermined frequency, a rectification unit connected to both ends of the inductor, the rectification unit including multiple capacitors and multiple diodes, a current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing through the rectification unit, and a control unit configured to control a duty of the drive signal based on a result of detection by the current detection unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a shield case in which a circuit board mounted with an electric circuit is contained. The shield case has an electrical conductive case main body and an electrical conductive lid member. The case main body has an aperture formed in a part of one face. The lid member has one end turnably supported by the case main body and the other end fastened to the case main body by a screw when the aperture is closed. The case main body and lid member have an engaged part and an engaging part engaged with each other when the aperture is closed. The engaging part is formed so as to clamp the engaged part. The shield case is configured so that contact force between the engaging part and engaged part is increased, if the screw is rotated in a fastening direction when the aperture is closed.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable member; a web; a mechanism; a contact portion; a plurality of displacing portions; a detecting portion; a notifying portion; a first counting portion; a prohibiting portion; and a second counting portion. The prohibiting portion prohibits an image forming process when the detecting portion detects displacement of the contact portion when the number of times of the image forming process counted by the second counting portion is less than a predetermined number. The notifying portion prompts an exchange of the web when the detecting portion detects the displacement of the contact portion when the number of times is not less than the predetermined number.

Abstract: A removal device includes a scraping member extending in a crossing direction that crosses a movement direction in which a cleaning object moves, the scraping member scraping waste off a surface of the cleaning object at a contact portion of the scraping member that is in contact with the surface; and a pair of sealing members disposed on both outer sides of the scraping member in the crossing direction and sealing the both outer sides by contacting the surface. Each of the sealing members includes a protruding portion that protrudes beyond the contact portion upstream in the movement direction of the cleaning object. The protruding portion has a slit that extends diagonally from an edge of the protruding portion outward in the crossing direction and upstream in the movement direction, the edge facing inward in the crossing direction.

Abstract: A cartridge is attached to or detached from a main body of an image forming apparatus that has an opening portion and a door that opens or closes the opening portion. The cartridge includes: a memory unit with a contact portion via which the cartridge is connected to the main body to transmit information of the cartridge to the main body; and a moving member on which the contact portion is mounted, wherein the moving member is moved to a first position where the contact portion is hidden inside the cartridge and a second position where the contact portion protrudes out of the cartridge to be connected to a connection portion provided in the main body, the moving member being moved to the second position in connection with closing of the door.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including an image forming unit, a body accommodating the image forming unit, and a cover configured to form a part of an exterior covering of the body, is provided. The cover includes a first rib formed to protrude from an inner surface of the cover and extend longitudinally along the inner surface of the cover. The first rib extends to incline with respect to a horizontal plane to be higher at one end on a first side of the image forming apparatus and lower at the other end on a second side of the image forming apparatus. An upper surface of the first rib extends continuously from the one end to the other end and is discontinued at the other end, the other end of the upper surface of the first rib being separated from the exterior covering.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a fixing device, and a fan. The fixing device includes a heating member, a pressing member, and a frame. The heating member includes a heater configured to generate heat, a cylindrical member storing the heater therein, and first and second support terminals disposed at first and second ends of the heater, respectively, in a longitudinal direction of the heater, the first and second support terminals supporting the heater. The frame is made of resin, and includes a first support terminal supporting portion supporting the first support terminal of the heater and a second support terminal supporting portion supporting the second support terminal of the heater. The frame further includes a duct portion disposed proximate to the first support terminal supporting portion, the duct portion through which air flows to the fan.

Abstract: A timepiece mechanism structure for receiving and guiding at least one pivoting wheel set is provided. The structure includes at least one inseparable single-piece structure, including one inseparable single-piece frame which includes pivot housings aligned in pairs in a direction of alignment for receiving the pivots of an arbour of this pivoting wheel set, and each pivot housing is an open housing formed by a half bearing or by a dihedral, and includes at one end a stop bearing surface in this direction of alignment.

Abstract: A method of adjusting oscillation frequency of a timepiece regulating assembly with no index assembly, to a predetermined oscillation frequency, including: randomly taking a particular balance spring assembly from a production of toleranced products; measuring return torque of the balance spring assembly; randomly taking a balance from a production of toleranced products; calculating theoretical inertia of the particular balance required to achieve the predetermined oscillation frequency, according to the measured return torque of the balance spring; measuring real inertia of the particular balance; and by direct action on the particular balance, correcting the inertia of the particular balance to the calculated theoretical inertia value to obtain the predetermined oscillation frequency for the regulating assembly formed by the particular balance, and by the particular balance spring assembly.

Abstract: A temperature compensation-type balance includes a balance staff, and a balance wheel having a plurality of bimetal portions disposed in parallel to each other in a circumferential direction around a rotation axis of the balance staff. Connection members connect respective ones of the plurality of bimetal portions and the balance staff. Each bimetal portion is a layered body in which a first member and a second member are radially overlapped, and one end portion in the circumferential direction is a fixed end connected to a respective connection member and the other end portion in the circumferential direction is a free end. The first member is formed of a ceramic material, and the second member is formed of a metal material having a thermal expansion coefficient different from that of the first member.

Abstract: An elapsed time indicator (2), comprises an activator arrangement (25) comprising a fluid reservoir (20) and a conduit (22) configured to provide a predetermined flow rate of fluid (21) along the conduit (22). The elapsed time indicator (2) further comprises a visual display arrangement (18) configured to change appearance on exposure to the fluid (21). The conduit (22) connects the fluid reservoir (20) to the visual display arrangement (18). The activator arrangement (25) is configured to release fluid (21) from the fluid reservoir (20) in response to an activation event to permit the fluid (21) to flow.

Abstract: A display assembly includes a display selectively displaying human-readable indicia on a face thereof and a cover disposed over the display. The cover has a homogeneous surface over the entire face of the display. The display assembly is controllable between an inactive state and an active state. In the inactive state, the face of the display is not viewable through the cover, and in the active state, the indicia are viewable through the cover.

Abstract: There are provided a constant voltage circuit that features low current consumption and stable operation, and an analog electronic clock provided with the constant voltage circuit. The constant voltage circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit which is turned on/off by a predetermined signal and which controls the voltage of a gate of an output transistor on the basis of a reference voltage and a feedback voltage that are received, a switch circuit which is connected to an output terminal of the differential amplifier circuit and which is turned on/off by a predetermined signal, and a voltage holding circuit which is connected between the gate of the output transistor and a power supply terminal and which has a resistor and a capacitor connected in series. An analog electronic clock provided with the foregoing constant voltage circuit that supplies a voltage to at least an oscillation circuit and a frequency division circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for using biometrics to select music preference are provided. A system for using biometrics to select music preferences for a user in a vehicle, comprises a music selection module electrically coupled to at least one biometric sensor in the vehicle, wherein the at least one biometric sensor senses a characteristic of the user and outputs data for the sensed characteristic to the music selection module, and wherein the music selection module selects a music selection for the user based on the sensed characteristic data, and a controller module electrically coupled to the music selection module to control playing of the music selection, wherein the controller module receives an output including the music selection from the music selection module.

Abstract: Prior to machining a workpiece, a warm-up control device for a machine tool is activated to perform a warm-up in which a main shaft rotary drive part and axes drive parts are driven. The amount of displacement of heat that is generated upon starting of the warm-up and changes with time is calculated every predetermined time period. Whether to end the warm-up is determined based on the thermal displacement amount. Whether to restart the warm-up after the end of the warm-up is determined based on the thermal displacement amount. When it is determined to restart the warm-up, the warm-up is restarted.

Abstract: An imaging lens substantially includes six lenses, constituted by: a first lens having a negative refractive power, which is of a meniscus shape having a concave surface toward an image side; a second lens; a third lens; a fourth lens; a fifth lens having a positive refractive power; and a sixth lens having a negative refractive power, a concave surface toward the image side, and at least one inflection point in the surface toward the image side; provided in this order from an object side. The imaging lens satisfies a predetermined conditional formula.

Abstract: In this disclosure, equations to be solved in the model predictive control are transformed by using an off-line algebraic simplification method into a matrix operational expression representing a product of a coefficient matrix and a vector regarding solution inputs within a control horizon is equal to a function vector regarding target values of output states and the output states. The size of the coefficient matrix is reduced compared with the conventional matrix. Then, the matrix operational expression is solved in an online plant control apparatus with present output states and present target values of the output stats of a plant to be controlled, by the direct method, to output the solution to the plant.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance system and a method and device for generating a control command sequence for operating the magnetic resonance system, a magnetic resonance data acquisition sequence is provided to a processor and is modified in the processor. The sequence operates the magnetic resonance system to acquire magnetic resonance data from a subject in multiple individual data acquisitions for subsequent automated evaluation of the individual data acquisitions with respect to an evaluation parameter. The individual evaluation results are combined into an overall evaluation result. The control command sequence is automatically modified in the processor by varying at least one sequence control parameter between different individual data acquisitions so that a variance of a measurement error in the overall evaluation result is minimized.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to providing audio playback to a mobile device user. According to one aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may be to modify audio playback in response to detecting an inclination of the mobile device (and thereby a user) with respect to a reference plane. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may be configured to automatically identify an audible sound that may be motivational to a user, and store an indication of the audible sound in response to the identification. According to another aspect of this disclosure, a mobile device may automatically play back a previously identified motivational song in response to detection of user movement.

Abstract: A method for establishing a secure connection from a service technician to a component of an automation environment that can be remotely diagnosed and/or maintained and is experiencing failure. A service certificate is required for establishing the secure connection, wherein a secure initial connection is first established to the automation environment by the service technician using a one-time password. With the initial connection, a service certificate required for establishing the secure connection to the component of the automation environment experiencing the failure is subsequently transmitted from the automation environment to the service technician. The secure connection from the service technician to the component experiencing the failure is then established by means of the service certificate. The invention further relates to an automation environment that is suitable for carrying out a method of said kind.