Patents Issued in April 7, 2016
  • Publication number: 20160097974
    Abstract: A chemically amplified negative resist composition comprising a silicone structure-bearing polymer forms a film which can be readily patterned. The patterned film is tightly adherent to various substrates and suited as protective film on electric/electronic parts because of improved alkali resistance and reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Asai, Katsuya Takemura, Kyoko Soga
  • Publication number: 20160097975
    Abstract: An imprint apparatus include: a substrate stage; a dispense unit; an irradiation unit; a receiving unit configured to receive an imprint material that is dummy dispensed from the dispense unit; and a controller configured to cause the dummy dispensed imprint material to be irradiated by an energy beam from the irradiation unit without bringing the dummy dispensed imprint material into contact with the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yousuke Kondo, Toshinori Kobashi
  • Publication number: 20160097976
    Abstract: Photosensitive materials and method of forming a pattern that include providing a composition of a component of a photosensitive material that is operable to float to a top region of a layer formed from the photosensitive material. In an example, a photosensitive layer includes a first component having a fluorine atom (e.g., alkyl fluoride group). After forming the photosensitive layer, the first component floats to a top surface of the photosensitive layer. Thereafter, the photosensitive layer is patterned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Ching-Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20160097977
    Abstract: An orthogonal process for photolithographic patterning organic structures is disclosed. The disclosed process utilizes fluorinated solvents or supercritical CO2 as the solvent so that the performance of the organic conductors and semiconductors would not be adversely affected by other aggressive solvent. One disclosed method may also utilize a fluorinated photoresist together with the HFE solvent, but other fluorinated solvents can be used. In one embodiment, the fluorinated photoresist is a resorcinarene, but various fluorinated polymer photoresists and fluorinated molecular glass photoresists can be used as well. For example, a copolymer perfluorodecyl methacrylate (FDMA) and 2-nitrobenzyl methacrylate (NBMA) is a suitable orthogonal fluorinated photoresist for use with fluorinated solvents and supercritical carbon dioxide in a photolithography process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher K. Ober, George Malliaras, Jin-Kyun Lee, Alexander Zakhidov, Margarita Chatzichristidi, Priscilla Dodson
  • Publication number: 20160097978
    Abstract: A resist pattern-forming method includes applying a resist underlayer film-forming composition to a substrate to form a resist underlayer film. The resist underlayer film-forming composition includes (A) a polysiloxane. A radiation-sensitive resin composition is applied to the resist underlayer film to form a resist film. The radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (a1) a polymer that changes in polarity and decreases in solubility in an organic solvent due to an acid. The resist film is exposed. The exposed resist film is developed using a developer that includes an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke ANNO, Takashi MORI, Hirokazu SAKAKIBARA, Taiichi FURUKAWA, Kazunori TAKANASHI, Hiromitsu TANAKA, Shin-ya MINEGISHI
  • Publication number: 20160097979
    Abstract: A method of trimming a resist pattern, including forming a positive resist film on a substrate, the positive resist film is exposed and the positive resist film is subjected to an alkali development to form a first resist pattern having an alkali-insoluble region on the surface thereof; applying a resist trimming composition including an acid to the substrate on which the first resist pattern is formed; a heating the first resist pattern coated with the resist trimming composition, and the solubility of the first resist pattern in a developing solution is changed under action of the acid included in the resist trimming composition; and developing the first resist pattern after heating with an organic solvent to remove the alkali-insoluble region of the first resist pattern, the resist trimming composition including the acid and a solvent which does not dissolve the first resist pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Rikita TSUNODA, Ryoji WATANABE, Yoichi HORI
  • Publication number: 20160097980
    Abstract: An exposure apparatus is equipped with an encoder system which measures positional information of a wafer stage by irradiating a measurement beam using four heads installed on the wafer stage on a scale plate which covers the movement range of the wafer stage except for the area right under a projection optical system. Placement distances of the heads here are each set to be larger than width of the opening of the scale plates, respectively. This allows the positional information of the wafer stage to be measured, by switching and using the three heads facing the scale plate out of the four heads according to the position of the wafer stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuichi SHIBAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20160097981
    Abstract: An optical apparatus and a manufacturing method using the optical apparatus are disclosed. The optical apparatus includes a stage supporting a substrate, first optical systems providing a first light onto the substrate, a gantry supporting the first optical systems to transfer them on the stage, and second optical systems disposed between the gantry and the stage and detecting displacement of the first optical systems. Each of the second optical systems includes a beam source generating a second light different with the first light, and sensor arrays for sensing the second light provided to the first optical systems to detect displacement of the first optical systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicants: KNU-INDUSTRY COOPERATION FOUNDATION, SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: SANGJOON HONG, JONGJIN LEE, HiKUK LEE, SANGDON JANG, Inbae CHANG
  • Publication number: 20160097982
    Abstract: Exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by irradiating the substrate with exposure light via a projection optical system and a liquid. The exposure apparatus is provided with a liquid immersion mechanism for supplying the liquid and recovering the liquid. The liquid immersion mechanism has an inclined surface, which is opposite to a surface of the substrate and is inclined with respect to the surface of the substrate, and a liquid recovering port of the liquid immersion mechanism is formed in the inclined surface. A flat portion is provided between the substrate and the projection optical system. A liquid immersion area can be maintained to be small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroyuki NAGASAKA, Takeshi OKUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160097983
    Abstract: A substrate is provided with device structures and metrology structures (800). The device structures include materials exhibiting inelastic scattering of excitation radiation of one or more wavelengths. The device structures include structures small enough in one or more dimensions that the characteristics of the inelastic scattering are influenced significantly by quantum confinement. The metrology structures (800) include device-like structures (800b) similar in composition and dimensions to the device features, and calibration structures (800a). The calibration structures are similar to the device features in composition but different in at least one dimension. Using an inspection apparatus and method implementing Raman spectroscopy, the dimensions of the device-like structures can be measured by comparing spectral features of radiation scattered inelastically from the device-like structure and the calibration structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Willem BOGAART, Franciscus Godefridus Casper BIJNEN, Arie Jeffrey DEN BOEF, Simon Gijsbert Josephus MATHIJSSEN
  • Publication number: 20160097984
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus (300) includes a focus monitoring arrangement (500, 500?). Focusing radiation (505) comprises radiation having a first wavelength and radiation having a second wavelength. Reference radiation and focusing radiation at each wavelength are provided with at least one relative frequency shift so that the interfering radiation detected in the detection system includes a time-varying component having a characteristic frequency. A focus detection system (520) comprises one or more lock-in detectors (520b, 520c, 900). Operating the lock-in detectors with reference to both the first and second characteristic frequencies allows the arrangement to select which of the first and second focusing radiation is used to determine whether the optical system is in focus. Good quality signals can be obtained from targets of different structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Amandev SINGH, Henricus Petrus Maria PELLEMANS
  • Publication number: 20160097985
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic image developing toner containing a binder resin, a colorant and a wax, wherein at least one specific peak or shoulder attributable to a melting point of the wax is present at 55 to 90° C., a dust emission (Dt) of said electrostatic image developing toner satisfies the specific formula, another specific peak or shoulder relating to an endothermic quantity is present at 65.6 to 70.8° C., and an average value of tan ? in a range of an angular velocity of 20 to 100 rad/sec in a dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at 140° C. is from 1.62 to 2.20.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: MASAYA OTA
  • Publication number: 20160097986
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a charging member, a charging voltage source, an electrostatic image forming portion, a developing device, a developing voltage source, a transfer portion, a transfer voltage source, and a controller. During image formation, the toner remaining on the image bearing member after transfer is collected into the developing device while forming an image. In a cleaning operation performed during non-image formation, while rotating the image bearing member, the controller transfers the toner from the charging member onto the image bearing member, passes the toner through the developing portion in an urged state, reverses a charge polarity of the toner to a normal polarity at a charging portion, and then transfers the toner reversed in charge polarity from the image bearing member onto the developing member at the developing portion to collect the toner in the developing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Takashi Hiramatsu, Yusuke Usui, Kuniaki Tamagaki, Hiroyoshi Iwayama
  • Publication number: 20160097987
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes an image carrier; a power supply; a charging member, to which the power supply applies a direct current (DC) charging voltage, to charge a surface of the image carrier; and a controller. The controller causes the power supply to apply, to the charging member, the DC charging voltage of a sum of a reference voltage VC and a correction amount ?, so that a charged potential VD of the surface of the image carrier assumes a target value that is substantially equal to the reference voltage VC; and to increase an absolute value of the correction amount ? to be added to the reference voltage VC in inverse proportion to an absolute value of the reference voltage VC, when the absolute value of the reference voltage VC is smaller compared to a case in which the absolute value of the reference voltage VC is greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisashi KIKUCHI, Kazuhiko Watanabe, Takaaki Tawada, Eisuke Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20160097988
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an exposure device, a detection device, a measurement device that measures a current flowing to the detection device, and a control unit that executes a detection mode in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member and the measurement device detects a change in the current relative to the electrostatic latent image, wherein, in an adjustment mode, the control unit causes a potential difference between the electrostatic latent image and the detection device to be smaller as a layer thickness of the photosensitive member is more reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Hideaki Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20160097989
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member; a charger for charging the photosensitive member by being supplied with a DC voltage; an image forming station for forming an image on the photosensitive member charged by the charger to form an electrostatic image; a current detector for detecting a DC current flowing to the charger when the charger is supplied with a DC voltage from the voltage source; an executing portion for executing pre-charging operation for charging by the charger the photosensitive member a which is rotating, after production of an image formation signal prior to image forming operation by the image forming station; and a controller for controlling an amount of rotation of the photosensitive member in the pre-charging operation on the basis of a DC current detected by the current detector during the pre-charging operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Shota Soda
  • Publication number: 20160097990
    Abstract: A developing device and an image forming apparatus including the developing device are provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developer carrier which is rotatably supported by the housing, and which carries developer on a circumferential surface thereof, a layer thickness regulating member which includes, a blade contacting the circumferential surface of the developer carrier along a rotational axial direction of the developer carrier, and a support member supporting the blade, the layer thickness regulating member for regulating a layer thickness of the developer on the circumferential surface of the developer carrier. The support member includes: a contact part which contacts the blade; and a pair of attachment parts which are attached to the housing. The attachment parts are provide at both sides of the contact part in the rotational axial direction and are further protruded than the contact part in a direction away from the developer carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Hiroki Mori
  • Publication number: 20160097991
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of properly determining replacement time of a developer replenishment unit. An inductance sensor measures a toner density in a developing device. A counter counts the number of pixels of an image to be formed. A toner density-estimating section estimates a toner density in the developing device using the count value output from the counter and a toner replenishment signal output to supply toner from a toner bottle to the developing device. A toner replenishment amount error-estimating section estimates a toner replenishment amount error using the measured toner density and the estimated toner density. When a cumulative value of the toner replenishment amount error becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that it is necessary to replace the toner bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kana Oshima, Jiro Shirakata, Shusuke Miura
  • Publication number: 20160097992
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer agitation portion including a plurality of trap agitation blades arranged in an axis direction of the developer agitation portion. A plurality of agitation blade portions is arranged with being shifted from one another in a circumferential direction and a longitudinal direction of the developer agitation portion. Two adjacent trap agitation blades constituting the agitation blade portion are arranged at an angle so as to make a space between the two adjacent trap agitation blades gradually wider upstream with respect to a rotation direction of the developer agitation portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Fumiaki Nakamura, Takahiro Miyakawa
  • Publication number: 20160097993
    Abstract: A developer container configured to contain developer to be used for image formation, includes a first electrode provided in the developer container, a second electrode provided opposing to the first electrode configured to detect an electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, to detect a quantity of the developer, a conveyance member provided between the first electrode and the second electrode and on a bottom surface side inside the developer container, and configured to convey the developer contained in the developer container, and a vibration imparting member configured to impart vibration to the conveyance member, wherein the developer on a developer conveyance surface of the conveyance member contacting the developer is conveyed by the vibration of the conveyance member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Seiichi Shinohara, Hiroki Ogino, Kojiro Yasui
  • Publication number: 20160097994
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus sequentially transfers toner images formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums onto an intermediate transfer member or a transfer material to form an image. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt provided with electrical conductivity, and a power supply for applying a voltage to a secondary transfer roller to pass a current from the secondary transfer roller to the plurality of photosensitive drums via the intermediate transfer belt, thus primarily transferring the toner images from the plurality of photosensitive drums onto the intermediate transfer belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Ito, Yasuhiro Horiguchi, Takayuki Tanaka, Kenji Karashima, Satoshi Tsuruya, Shinichi Nishida, Takeshi Fujino
  • Publication number: 20160097995
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus is provided which enables more productive image formation. When an option unit implements a change from a second operation mode that exhibits high power consumption to a first operation mode that exhibits low power consumption while images are being consecutively formed on a plurality of recording materials, an upper limit on power that can be supplied to a fixing section is set higher than that in the second operation mode, and intervals, at which recording materials are consecutively fed, are set narrower than those in the second operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Yuya Konno
  • Publication number: 20160097996
    Abstract: In one example, a foil printer includes a press configured to press together a foil and an image printed on a substrate and an imaging laser configured to selectively direct a laser beam on to the foil or on to the substrate in a pattern of an image to be transferred from the foil to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Hewlett-Packard Indigo, B.V.
    Inventors: Ziv Gilan, Gadi Oron
  • Publication number: 20160097997
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a fixing device comprises a pressing roller configured to be rotationally driven by a motor; an endless fixing belt configured to be driven to rotate through the rotation of the pressing roller; a fixing pad configured to be contacted with the inner periphery of the fixing belt and be pressed against the pressing roller to form a fixing nip; a lubricant configured to be coated on the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt; an exciting coil configured to generate a magnetic field; a magnetic shunt alloy member configured to abut along one part of the inner peripheral surface of the fixing belt; a shield member configured to face the inner side of the magnetic shunt alloy member; and a flow-out prevention section configured to prevent the lubricant from flowing into a gap between the magnetic shunt alloy member and the shield member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Chie Miyauchi
  • Publication number: 20160097998
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing section that transfers a toner image to a recording medium for printing in a printer section and then fixes the toner image, a decoloring section that heats and decolors a decolorable image printed on a recording medium for reuse with a color material of which the color is decolored if heated at a decoloring temperature, and a controller that enables the fixing section and the decoloring section to operate exclusively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Tatsuhisa Naraoka, Ken Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20160097999
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a recording material accommodating portion configured to accommodate a recording material; an image forming portion configured to form a toner image on the recording material fed from the recording material accommodating portion; a fixing portion configured to heat-fix the toner image formed on the recording material by the image forming portion; a storing portion configured to store information corresponding to a type of the recording material accommodated in the recording material accommodating portion; a detecting portion configured to detect that a predetermined operation is performed by an operator before the image forming apparatus receives an image formation instruction; and an executing portion configured to execute a start-up process, when the detecting portion detects the predetermined operation performed by the operator, over a time depending on the information stored in the storing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Daigo Matsuura
  • Publication number: 20160098000
    Abstract: A belt device includes an endless belt and a rotary driver contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt to drive and rotate the belt. An opposed belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver and in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the belt. A rotary belt support is disposed opposite the rotary driver via the opposed belt support and in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the belt. A belt support holder holds the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support to retain a predetermined interval between the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support. A biasing assembly presses against the belt support holder to move the opposed belt support and the rotary belt support collectively with respect to the rotary driver and bias the opposed belt support against the rotary driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Yuusuke FURUICHI, Yoshihiro FUKUHATA, Tomohiko FUJII
  • Publication number: 20160098001
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda
  • Publication number: 20160098002
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heating belt having a heat generating layer configured to generate heat by energization, a pressing roller configured to abut on an outer peripheral surface of the heating belt to form a nip portion, a pressing mechanism configured to press the heating belt against the pressing roller, an outer ring electrically connected to the heating belt in an end portion of the heating belt, a power feed member configured to abut on the outer ring to feed power to the outer ring, and an inner ring configured to clamp the end portion of the heating belt between the inner ring and the outer ring. A chamfered portion of the inner ring is chamfered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Ryo Yashiro, Hidekazu Maruta, Masayuki Tamaki, Ryo Suzuki, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Rikiya Takemasa, Koichi Kakubari, Shigeru Hirano
  • Publication number: 20160098003
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heat source; a fixing member looped into a generally cylindrical shape to rotate in a circumferential direction thereof and partially heated by the heat source and to heat a surface of a recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image to fix the unfixed toner image thereon in a fixing process; a rotary pressing member disposed facing the fixing member to form a nip therebetween, through which the recording medium is transported in a transport direction; and a rotation driver to rotate one of the fixing member and the pressing member. In a case in which the fixing member is halted for a reason other than the fixing process while power of the fixing device is on, electric power is not supplied to the heat source and the fixing member is rotated by a predetermined amount or more after the fixing member is halted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Takeshi UCHITANI, Masahiko SATOH, Kenji ISHII, Tadashi OGAWA, Teppei KAWATA, Arinobu YOSHIURA, Toshihiko SHIMOKAWA, Kensuke YAMAJI, Takamasa HASE, Shuutaroh YUASA, Masaaki YOSHIKAWA, Hiromasa TAKAGI, Takahiro IMADA, Hajime GOTOH, Akira SUZUKI, Takuya SESHITA, Hiroshi YOSHINAGA, Kazuya SAITO, Shinichi NAMEKATA, Takayuki SEKI, Yuji ARAI, Ryuuichi MIMBU, Yoshiki YAMAGUCHI, Shuntaroh TAMAKI, Yutaka IKEBUCHI
  • Publication number: 20160098004
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming device configured to form a toner image on a sheet; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image formed on the sheet by the image forming device at a nip; an executing portion configured to execute an operation in a cleaning mode for cleaning the fixing device by forming a predetermined toner image on a sheet using the image forming device and then by introducing the sheet into the nip; and a notifying device for notifying an operator that a maximum-width sheet usable in the image forming device is to be used in the operation in the cleaning mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Shinagawa, Oki Kitagawa, Masanobu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20160098005
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of latent image bearers, a latent image writer, a plurality of developing units, a primary transfer unit, a secondary transfer unit, an adjuster, a pattern image formation controller, a color deviation detector, a color deviation correction controller, and an image-formation-mode setting unit. The latent image writer writes latent images to the latent image bearers. The plurality of developing units develops the latent images of the latent image bearers and form toner images of different colors. The primary transfer unit transfers the toner images on the latent image bearers to an intermediate transferer. The secondary transfer unit transfers the toner images from the intermediate transferer to a sheet. The adjuster causes the intermediate transferer and the secondary transfer unit to be in a contact state or a separated state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kazuhiro KOBAYASHI, Toshiyuki Uchida, Kaoru Yoshino, Toshihiro Shimada
  • Publication number: 20160098006
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a unit, a high-voltage board and a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a first connecting member, a first holding member, a coupling member and a second connecting member. The first connecting member includes a first spring terminal. The first spring terminal includes a first large diameter part and a first small diameter part. The first holding member has a first contact part coming into contact with an end part of the first small diameter part at a side of the first large diameter part in a state where the first holding member is coupled with the coupling member. The coupling member has a second contact part coming into contact with an end part of the first large diameter part at a side of the first small diameter part in the state where the first holding member is coupled with the coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Shinobu OHATA, Keiji OKUMURA
  • Publication number: 20160098007
    Abstract: A door is held in an open condition by locking a stopper member whose one end is turnably supported by an apparatus body. The stopper member is composed of a base member having a project portion and a turning shaft portion supported by a printer body, and a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member is joined with the base member by a joining mechanism such that, in a case when a force of predetermined magnitude is applied to the door in opening the door, the base member is broken and the reinforcing member holds the door by supporting the project portion and the turning shaft portion of the broken base member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Shigeo Doi, Tadahisa Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20160098008
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that is rotatably supported, a to-be-transferred member onto which an image that is held by the image carrier is transferred, a driving unit that is disposed on a first end portion of the image carrier in an axial direction of the image carrier and that causes the image carrier to rotate, and a retreat mechanism that causes a second end portion of the image carrier to be separated from the to-be-transferred member while a connection between the image carrier and the driving unit is maintained and thereafter causes the image carrier to retreat by disconnecting the image carrier and the driving unit from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Lei YUAN, Kazuaki IIKURA, Kaoru WATANABE, Kazuhiro SAITO
  • Publication number: 20160098009
    Abstract: A fixing device includes first and second rotatable members configured to fix, at a nip therebetween, a toner image formed on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent; a casing provided with a sheet introducing opening and a sheet discharging opening and configured to include the first and second rotatable members; a fan; a duct configured to guide air from the fan toward one longitudinal end portion of the first rotatable member; and a cover member configured to cover an outer surface of the first rotatable member, wherein the cover member extends inside the casing from a neighborhood of the sheet introducing opening to the duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Kota Aoki, Koji Nojima
  • Publication number: 20160098010
    Abstract: A surface relief structure includes a recording medium configured to be structurally modified when exposed to interfering and non-interfering portions of radiation beams, the structurally modified recording medium including, when viewed in a two-dimensional cross-section along one of the axes of the recording medium a plurality of equally spaced steps of fine-sized periodicity superimposed upon a plurality of deep depressions of substantially coarse-sized periodicity. The structurally modified recording medium is configured to produce in reflection single and multiple colors in a broad spectral range when illuminated by a source of light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: James J. COWAN
  • Publication number: 20160098011
    Abstract: Device with coaxial disengageable wheels for a timepiece movement including an input wheel, an output wheel, a hub, and a jumper mechanism including a spring and positioning elements defining a certain number of discrete angular positions of the input wheel with respect to the output wheel around an axis of rotation. The positioning elements including hollow elements and protruding elements, the spring being configured to apply an elastic force pushing the protruding elements against the hollow elements to couple the wheels to each other below a disengagement torque. The protruding elements and the hollow elements extend in the axial direction and the spring is configured to apply an elastic force in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogere Suisse
    Inventors: Daniel GRUENIG, Baptist WYSSBROD, David Benjamin KRAEHENBUEHL
  • Publication number: 20160098012
    Abstract: The timepiece comprises means for indicating the sunrise and sunset taking account of seasonal variations. These means comprise a sphere reproducing the terrestrial globe, a shell arranged concentrically to the sphere and arranged to demarcate one portion of the terrestrial globe where it is night from another portion where it is day by indicating the position of the Earth's terminator. The shell can pivot about the globe on two axes perpendicular to each other. The shell is driven by the movement so as to rotate at a rate of one revolution per 24 hours about the polar axis. A disconnecting mechanism is controlled by an annual cam which has a profile representative of the tilt of the Sun with respect to the equatorial plane. The disconnecting mechanism controls the tilt of the shell about the axis by means of a drive shaft concentric to the polar axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Beat GILOMEN, Michel WILLEMIN, Dominique LECHOT
  • Publication number: 20160098013
    Abstract: Watch bezel for a musical watch, directly carrying a gong or forming a gong, this watch bezel including a toroid receiving a watch crystal, and a thin lug perpendicular to the plane of the toroid including an internal thread for securing to a structure, a case of the musical watch includes a case middle and carries this watch bezel indirectly bearing on a main surface of the case middle with a first O-ring sealing gasket, the case middle and the watch bezel are held securely to each other in a position where, in the free state of the watch bezel and with no excess pressure, the watch bezel is at a distance from the main surface having a value corresponding to a predetermined and non-zero play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventors: Younes KADMIRI, Davide SARCHI, Polychronis Nakis KARAPATIS
  • Publication number: 20160098014
    Abstract: The motor driver of an horological motor consumes an important part of the electrical energy of the electronic circuit due to the fact that configuration data has to be transferred to configuration registers before each turn/step. In order to reduce the power consumption a circuitry is proposed, which detects a change in at least one of the configuration registers. This detection is used to trigger a refresh of the configuration registers only when actually a change in at least one of these configuration registers occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Ovidiu Sima
  • Publication number: 20160098015
    Abstract: A timer in which primary (household or solar or wind) electrical power is used as a source to direct the primary power to an electrically powered device, such as an appliance or light. Electrical energy for the timer can be provided by the household current (or solar/wind power), optionally suitably transformed or inverted to provide acceptable voltage of either AC or DC to operate a motor or CPU. In case of interruption of the source of the primary electrical power, rechargeable battery(s) housed within the case of the timer will operate the timer until the primary source of electrical power is restored. The case can also accommodate additional rechargeable battery(s) in a charging station, which additional rechargeable battery(s) are not required to power the tinier in the event of loss of primary power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: William J. McNulty, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160098016
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a wearable electronic device. The wearable electronic device includes an enclosure having a sidewall with a button aperture defined therethrough, a display connected to the enclosure, a processing element in communication with the display. The device also includes a sensing element in communication with the processing element and an input button at least partially received within the button aperture and in communication with the sensing element, the input button configured to receive two types of user inputs. During operation, the sensing element tracks movement of the input button to determine the two types of user inputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Colin M. Ely, Fletcher Rothkopf, Christopher Matthew Werner, John B. Morrell, Camille Moussette, Duncan Kerr, Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
  • Publication number: 20160098017
    Abstract: Disclosed are a smart watch and a method for controlling the same, which determine a notification device that provides a notification of an event, based on wearing/non-wearing of a smart watch and on a distance between the smart watch and an external digital device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyorim PARK, Doyoung LEE, Yongsin KIM
  • Publication number: 20160098018
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to filter process control system alarms based on alarm source type and/or alarm purpose are disclosed. An example method includes assigning a first subset of the process control alarms in a process control system to a first source type of the process control alarms. The first source type is associated with a first subset of user roles. The example method also includes assigning a second subset of the process control alarms to a second source type of the process control alarms. The second source type is associated with a second subset of the user roles. The example method further includes displaying alarm information associated with the process control alarms. The alarm information identifies the first source type of the first subset of the process control alarms and the second source type of the second subset of the process control alarms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventor: Kim Ordean Van Camp
  • Publication number: 20160098019
    Abstract: A servo-drive system for feedback-based control of motion and positioning of a motor comprises a current measurement device that obtains a measure of current being drawn by the drive motor from which to provide feedback. The current has an operating range which is made up of a relatively large current range for acceleration but remains within a relatively smaller current range for steady state operating of the motor. The current measurement device has a first, coarse, sensor optimized for measuring the relatively large current range and a second, fine, sensor optimized for measuring the relatively smaller current range, thereby to maximize feedback accuracy during steady state operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Ze'ev KIRSHENBOIM, Boaz KRAMER, Vladimir KOGAN
  • Publication number: 20160098020
    Abstract: A setpoint alarming system includes a feedback controller that monitors a process variable provided as a feedback signal from a plant and uses an error signal representing a difference between the process variable and a setpoint to generate a control signal for the plant. The plant uses the control signal to affect the process variable. The system includes a normalized index generator that uses the error signal to generate a normalized performance index for the plant. The system includes an expected value estimator that estimates a value of the normalized performance index expected to occur when a setpoint error of a predetermined magnitude has persisted for a predetermined duration. The system includes an alarm manager that compares the normalized performance index to the expected value and generates an alarm in response to the normalized performance index dropping below the expected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Timothy I. Salsbury, Carlos Felipe Alcala Perez, Michael J. Ajax
  • Publication number: 20160098021
    Abstract: A regional big data node oversees or services, during real-time operations of a process plant or process control system, a respective region of a plurality of regions of the plant/system, where at least some of the regions each includes one or more process control devices that operate to control a process executed in the plant/system. The regional big data node is configured to receive and store, as big data, streamed data and learned knowledge that is generated, received, or observed by its respective region, and to perform one or more learning analyses on at least some of the stored data. As a result of the learning analyses, the regional big data node creates new learned knowledge which the regional big data node may use to modify operations in its respective region, and/or which the regional big data node may transmit to other big data nodes of the plant/system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Zornio, Mark J. Nixon, Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, J. Michael Lucas, Eric D. Rotvold, Terrence L. Blevins, Paul Richard Muston, Gary K. Law
  • Publication number: 20160098022
    Abstract: A controller for a building system receives training data that includes input data and output data. The output data measures a state of the building system affected by both the input data and an extraneous disturbance. The controller performs a two-stage optimization process to identify system parameters and Kalman gain parameters of a dynamic model for the building system. During the first stage, the controller filters the training data to remove an effect of the extraneous disturbance from the output data and uses the filtered training data to identify the system parameters. During the second stage, the controller uses the non-filtered training data to identify the Kalman gain parameters. The controller uses the dynamic model with the identified system parameters and Kalman gain parameters to generate a setpoint for the building system. The building system uses the setpoint to affect the state measured by the output data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Robert D. Turney
  • Publication number: 20160098023
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an UML unification model system, in particular to a system for metamodeling transformation to guarantee interoperability between an UML model of IEC 61850 and an UML model of IEC 61970. According to the invention, all IEC 61970 smart grid application using IEC 61850 data source easily obtains interoperability between applications and actively react to change of international standard because application developers use data by referring to a single UML IEC 61850/61970 unified model and refer to a single UML model reflecting flexibly constant modification of IEC standard, if any.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Applicant: MYONGJI UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Hyuk Soo JANG, Hyo Sik YANG, Seok Yeol YUN, Dae Kyoo Kim, Herbert FALK, Dae-Seung HONG, Sangsig KIM, Byunghun LEE