Abstract: An exposure apparatus including: a substrate holder constructed to hold a substrate; a modulator, including a plurality of VECSELs or VCSELs to emit electromagnetic radiation, configured to expose an exposure area of a target portion to a plurality of beams of the radiation modulated according to a desired pattern, and a projection system configured to project the modulated beams onto the target portion and having an array of optical elements to receive the plurality of beams, the projection system configured to move the array of optical elements with respect to the plurality of VECSELs or VCSELs during exposure of the exposure area, wherein the movement involves rotation and/or the movement causes the beams to displace.

Abstract: A reflective optical element (50) having a substrate (52) and a multilayer system (51) that has a plurality of partial stacks (53), each with a first layer (54) of a first material and a second layer (55) of a second material. The first material and the second material differ from one another in refractive index at an operating wavelength of the optical element. Each of the partial stacks has a thickness (Di) and a layer thickness ratio (?i), wherein the layer thickness ratio is the quotient of the thickness of the respective first layer and the partial stack thickness (Di). In a first section of the multilayer system, for at least one of the two variables of partial stack thickness (Di) and layer thickness ratio (?i), the mean square deviation from the respective mean values therefor is at least 10% less than in a second section of the multilayer system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an exposure apparatus including a height measuring machine and a controller. The height measuring machine measures a height of a substrate coated with a photosensitive material. The controller can switch a condition under which the height measuring machine can perform a measurement, between a first measurement condition and a second measurement condition.

Abstract: A projection exposure system (10) for microlithography. The system includes projection optics (12) configured to image mask structures into a substrate plane (16), an input diffraction element (28) which is configured to convert irradiated measurement radiation (21) into at least two test waves (30) directed onto the projection optics (12) with differing propagation directions, a detection diffraction element (34; 28) which is disposed in the optical path of the test waves (30) after the latter have passed through the projection optics (12) and is configured to produce a detection beam (36) from the test waves (30) which has a mixture of radiation portions of both test waves (30), a photo detector (38) disposed in the optical path of the detection beam (36) which is configured to record the radiation intensity of the detection beam (36), time resolved, and an evaluation unit which is configured to determine the lateral imaging stability of the projection optics (12) from the radiation intensity recorded.

Abstract: Microlithographic illumination system includes individually drivable elements to variably illuminate a pupil surface of the system. Each element deviates an incident light beam based on a control signal applied to the element. The system also includes an instrument to provide a measurement signal, and a model-based state estimator configured to compute, for each element, an estimated state vector based on the measurement signal. The estimated state vector represents: a deviation of a light beam caused by the element; and a time derivative of the deviation. The illumination system further includes a regulator configured to receive, for each element: a) the estimated state vector; and b) target values for: i) the deviation of the light beam caused by the deviating element; and ii) the time derivative of the deviation.

Abstract: A method of position control of an optical component relative to a surface is disclosed. The method may include: obtaining a first signal by a first position measurement process; controlling relative movement between the optical component and the surface for a first range of motion using the first signal; obtaining a second signal by a second position measurement process different than the first position measurement process; and controlling relative movement between the optical component and the surface for a second range of motion using the second signal, the second range of motion being nearer the surface than the first range of motion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an exposure apparatus includes a wafer stage, an irradiation optical system, and a projecting optical system. The wafer stage includes a wafer clamp, and a plate clamp configured to hold a silicon plate having a predetermined film formed on a silicon substrate. A plurality of sensors configured to measure a back surface temperature of the silicon plate is placed on an upper surface side of the plate clamp. The projecting optical system applies exposure light to the silicon plate on the plate clamp upon exposure of the silicon plate.

Abstract: Metrology methods and targets are provided, that expand metrological procedures beyond current technologies into multi-layered targets, quasi-periodic targets and device-like targets, without having to introduce offsets along the critical direction of the device design. Several models are disclosed for deriving metrology data such as overlays from multi-layered target and corresponding configurations of targets are provided to enable such measurements. Quasi-periodic targets which are based on device patterns are shown to improve the similarity between target and device designs, and the filling of the surroundings of targets and target elements with patterns which are based on device patterns improve process compatibility. Offsets are introduced only in non-critical direction and/or sensitivity is calibrated to enable, together with the solutions for multi-layer measurements and quasi-periodic target measurements, direct device optical metrology measurements.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles having a volume average particle diameter of 3 ?m to 16 ?m, wherein, when the toner particles having a particle diameter of 1.0 ?m to 30.0 ?m are set as T1, the toner particles having a particle diameter of 1.0 ?m to 2.5 ?m are set as T2, a rate of T2 to the toner particles is set as A, the toner particles having a particle diameter of 1.0 ?m to 5 ?m is set as T3 and a rate of T3 to the toner particles is set as B, the rate of T2 occupying T1 is from 10% by number to 40% by number and a fine particle ratio C represented by A/B is from 0.18 to 0.40.

Abstract: A toner includes a base particle comprising a crystalline polyester resin; and an external additive which is a group of silica particles having a number-average particle diameter of from 0.01 ?m to 0.11 ?m on the surface of the toner. A number ratio of the silica particles having a circularity not less than 0.8 is 20% or more in the total number of the silica particles.

Abstract: A two-component developer of the present invention contains toner particles and carrier particles. The number-average particle diameter of the toner particles ranges from 3.5 to 5.0 ?m. The volume-average particle diameter of the carrier particles MDc is within a specific range in accordance with the percentage of relatively large toner particles having relatively low circularity.

Abstract: The toner has a toner particle that contains a binder resin, a colorant, a release agent, and a crystalline polyester, wherein the release agent contains an ester wax, and the peak top temperature of the maximum endothermic peak of the ester wax as measured with a differential scanning calorimeter is from 65° C. to 85° C., the ester wax satisfies specific conditions and the crystalline polyester satisfies specific conditions, the toner contains from 3.0 parts by mass to 20.0 parts by mass of the crystalline polyester per 100 parts by mass of the binder resin, and the mass ratio of the ester wax to crystalline polyester is from 25/75 to 75/25.

Abstract: There are provided ferrite particles that have, as a main component, a material represented by a composition formula MxFe3-xO4 (where M is at least one type of metal selected from a group consisting of Mg, Mn, Ca, Ti, Cu, Zn, Sr and Ni, 0<x<1), where the maximum height Rz of the particles falls within a range of 1.40 to 1.90, and the degree of distortion Rsk of the particles falls within a range of ?0.25 to ?0.07. In this way, when the ferrite particles are used as the carrier of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, even if an image formation speed is increased, the occurrence of a failure is reduced for a long period of time.

Abstract: A charging member, one embodiment of which includes a conductive support; a conductive elastomer layer stacked on the conductive support; and a conductive resin layer stacked on the conductive elastomer layer, wherein the conductive resin layer includes: a matrix material; and a plurality of particles dispersed in the matrix material, wherein the particles include first particles, and when a thickness of a portion formed of the matrix material alone of the conductive resin layer is referred to as A [?m], an average particle size of the first particles is referred to as B1 [?m], and an interparticle distance of the particles is referred to as Sm [?m], then A is in a range of 1.0 ?m to 7.0 ?m, B1/A is in a range of 5.0 to 30.0, and Sm is in a range of 50 ?m to 400 ?m.

Abstract: Density values of two non-fine line parts that sandwich a specified fine line part in image data are corrected to density values lower than a density value of the fine line part based on the density value of the specified fine line part.

Abstract: A developing device includes a rotatable developer carrying member configured to carry a developer, and a regulating unit, formed of a resin material, configured to regulate an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member. The regulating unit includes a regulating portion configured to regulate the amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member and a guiding portion, connected with an upstream end of the regulating portion with respect to a rotational direction of the developer carrying member, configured to guide the developer toward the regulating portion.

Abstract: A cartridge including an interconnect circuit to communicate with a host device, a carrier storing an authenticity verification code readable by a scan device other than the host device, and an auto-destruct feature to render the authenticity verification code unreadable when installing the cartridge in the host device.

Abstract: A powder transport member includes a rotary member that rotates around an axis inside a container in which powder is contained, a contact member that has one end secured to the rotary member and another end that is a free end, the contact member flexing upon contact of the other end with an inner wall of the container, the contact member having multiple cuts provided in an axial direction of the rotary member, the cuts extending from the other end obliquely with respect to the rotary member, and multiple projections that are provided on the rotary member in the axial direction, the projections projecting from the rotary member toward the inner wall of the container, the projections having a distal end portion that is located at a different position from a starting edge of the cuts with respect to the axial direction.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a developing roller with a shaft, a housing with a wall portion, a developing electrode, a first contact portion, a second contact portion, and a connecting portion. The developing electrode includes a first contact portion contacting the shaft and has a first surface against which an apparatus electrode of an image forming apparatus body slides, a second contact portion disposed next to the first contact portion, and a second surface configured to contact an electrode of the image forming apparatus. The connecting portion includes a first inclined surface connecting the first surface and the second surface with each other and being contiguous with the first surface. The first inclined surface is inclined toward the second contact portion from the first contact portion such that the first inclined surface extends in a direction away from the wall portion.

Abstract: A developing device according to the present disclosure includes a developer container, a first stirring member, a second stirring member, and a developer carrying member. The developer container has a plurality of conveyance chambers including first and second conveyance chambers, is provided with a developer supply portion and a developer discharge portion and stores a two-component developer. The second stirring member is provided with an electro-conductive regulating portion that is disposed to oppose the developer discharge portion that regulates movement of the developer to the developer discharge portion. An electro-conductive plate is disposed on an inner wall surface of the developer container that opposes the regulating portion.

Abstract: A toner storage device includes a toner storage case that stores toner, and a stirring paddle rotatably supported in the toner storage case and includes at least one stirring blade that stirs the toner stored in the toner storage case, and a rotating shaft that rotates the at least one stirring blade, wherein the toner storage case includes a first supporting portion that rotatably supports an end of the rotating shaft of the stirring paddle, a second supporting portion that rotatably supports an other end of the rotating shaft, and a tapered portion that is tapered toward the first supporting portion.

Abstract: A developing device includes a container in which developer is contained; and a developer carrier disposed in the container, the developer carrier including a magnet member having magnetic poles, and a rotation member that covers an outer circumference of the magnet member and is rotatably supported, the developer carrier developing a latent image formed on an image carrier into a visible image with the developer held on a surface of the rotation member as an effect of the magnet member. The rotation member has projections and recesses formed in the surface, which satisfy y?1.875×x+11.25, where y is an average depth of the projections and recesses when a lowest position of the recesses is assumed to be 0 and a highest position of the projections is assumed to be 100, and x is a ten-point average roughness of the projections and recesses.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a development device and a guide part guiding the development device to the image carrier. The development device includes a magnet roller, which includes a shaft having magnets arrayed circumferentially, and a cover member, which include a bearing part engaged with the guide part as the shaft is inserted thereinto. The shaft and the bearing part include an engaged part and an engaging part restricting a circumferential position of the magnet and including contact faces provided along an action direction of force from the guide part to the bearing part when the bearing part is engaged with the guide part and the development device approaches the image carrier. A clearance is provided between an outer circumferential face of the shaft and an inner circumferential face of the bearing part at an upstream side in the action direction from the contact faces.

Abstract: A toner including a binder resin and a release agent, wherein the toner has a second peak particle diameter in a range of from 1.21 times through 1.31 times as large as a most frequent diameter in a volume basis particle size distribution, and wherein the toner has a particle size distribution (volume average particle diameter/number average particle diameter) in a range of from 1.08 through 1.15.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a guide groove for a rotation shaft; a positioning groove provided on a guide surface, for the rotation shaft, in the guide groove; a pressing member provided so as to be rotatable about a support shaft provided at the opening side with respect to the positioning groove, and configured to press the rotation shaft in a groove depth direction of the positioning groove; and a lower surface portion configured to apply a first pressing force in the groove depth direction to the rotation shaft in a fit-in state where the rotation shaft is located at a fit-in position, and apply a second pressing force in the inserting direction to the rotation shaft against the first pressing force in an escape state where the rotation shaft is located at an escape position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus operable in a mode of forming an image using only a part of image forming stations. In the mode, a developing device contacts an image bearing member in a part of the image forming stations, and the developing device is spaced from the image bearing member in the rest of the image forming stations. The contact pressure between the image bearing member and a transferring device is made smaller in the rest than in the part. The image forming operation in the mode is executed while the image bearing members of the part and the rest are rotated. A controller is configured such that when the operation in the mode is continuously executed for a time period longer than a predetermined period, the contact pressure in the rest is made larger than the above-mentioned smaller contact pressure.

Abstract: There are provided: an electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer composition which can be produced with higher productivity at lower costs by means of a simple arrangement and has excellent extrudability and a lower resistance required for a driving roller; a production method for the composition; a driving roller produced by employing the electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer composition; and an image forming apparatus incorporating the driving roller. In the electrically conductive thermoplastic elastomer composition, 5 to 15 parts by mass of Ketjen black is finely dispersed in 100 parts by mass of a mixture of an ester type urethane thermoplastic elastomer and a plasticizer or in 100 parts by mass of a polyester thermoplastic elastomer. In the production method, the ingredient other than the Ketjen black is first kneaded, and then the Ketjen black is added to and further kneaded with the ingredient.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes the following elements. Plural developing units supply charged developers to electrostatic latent images formed on plural associated image carriers disposed along a direction in which an intermediate transfer body is transported. Plural first transfer units transfer the associated developers onto the intermediate transfer body when the intermediate transfer body passes the associated image carriers while being transported so as to superpose the developers on each other. A second transfer unit transfers the superposed developers transferred onto the intermediate transfer body by the plural first transfer units onto a recording medium. A charge-amount adjusting unit decreases an amount of electric charge of a developer which forms a lower layer developer among the superposed developers transferred onto the intermediate transfer body.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a heater; and a power distribution controller. The heater heats a predetermined heating target. The power distribution controller controls supply of AC power to the heater. The power distribution controller performs power distribution to the heater in units of AC half wave, and controls the power supply to the heater in accordance with power distribution control patterns respectively corresponding to a first time period as a power distribution start period, a third time period as a power distribution stop period, and a second time period between the first time period and the third time period.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that converts image data into pixel data, an image forming section that forms a toner image based on the pixel data, and a fixing section that fixes the toner image to the recording material by heating the recording material with the toner image formed thereon while conveying the recording material through a nip portion, wherein the image processing section divides the pixel data corresponding to one recording material into a plurality of areas each formed of a predetermined number of pixels and acquires density information on some of the pixels within each of the areas as representative values, wherein the fixing section carries out a process of fixing the toner image for which the density information has been acquired, under a fixing condition according to a maximum value of the representative values.

Abstract: A heater includes a heating element that includes an electrode disposed at an end of the heating element in a longitudinal direction of the heating element and that generates heat as a result of power being supplied to the heating element via the electrode, a support member that supports the heating element, a connecting member that is disposed between the heating element and the support member and that couples the heating element and the support member to each other at the end, the connecting member being fixed to the heating element in directions including the longitudinal direction and being fixed to the support member in such a manner as to be freely movable in the longitudinal direction, and a wiring line that is connected to the electrode of the heating element and fixed to the connecting member.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a heater disposed inside the endless belt and being elongated in a longitudinal direction, the heater having a first end portion in the longitudinal direction and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion in the longitudinal direction, a resin frame having a recess portion opening toward an inner side of the endless belt, a metal frame inserted into the recess portion of the resin frame. The metal frame has a first wall having a through-hole, and a second wall extending in a direction from the first end portion of the heater toward a second end portion of the heater, the second wall being disposed between the resin frame and the heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes image forming sections each including a developing section having a developer bearing member and a developer supply unit and a transfer unit that transfers an image developed on a photoconductor by the developing unit onto a transfer body, a controller that controls a driving time of the developer bearing member so that developer is born on the developer bearing member during a period when image formation is not performed and the developer attached to the transfer body by the image forming sections does not overlap, a detector that detects the attached developer by each image forming section, and a specification unit that specifies the image forming section which attaches the developer to the transfer body, on the basis of a time from when the controller starts driving the developer bearing member to when the detector detects the developer attached to the transfer body.

Abstract: A print control apparatus includes a generation unit, a storage unit, a transfer unit, a memory, and a controller. The generation unit generates image data by performing a rendering process in accordance with a print instruction. The storage unit stores the image data. The transfer unit reads the stored image data and transfers the read image data to a printer that performs printing on a sheet of paper. The memory stores, for each page in the print instruction, a processing time in association with the print instruction. In response to acceptance of an instruction for reprinting the print instruction, the controller controls whether to store the generated image data in the storage unit or to transmit the generated image data to the transfer unit, based on the processing time for each page stored in the memory in association with the print instruction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer that bears a toner image, a sensor, an adhesion amount calculator, and a wavelength determiner. The sensor includes a light source that emit light onto the image bearer, and an image element that detects reflected light that is emitted from the light source and reflected from the image bearer. The adhesion amount calculator calculates a toner adhesion amount of the toner image on the image bearer based on the reflected light having at least one wavelength among a plurality of wavelengths detected by the sensor. The wavelength determiner determines, based on color information of the image bearer detected by the sensor, a wavelength to be used in calculation of the toner adhesion amount by the adhesion amount calculator.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus uses a first developer conveyance amount and a first correction amount calculated respectively in a first state, a second developer conveyance amount and a second correction amount calculated respectively in a second state in which the developer conveyance amount is smaller than the developer conveyance amount of the first state, and a third developer conveyance amount detected in a third state in which the developer conveyance amount is smaller than the developer conveyance amount of the first state and is larger than the developer conveyance amount of the second state to calculate a third correction amount for correcting density unevenness of the toner image in the third state, and perform control to correct the density unevenness of the toner image based on the calculated third correction amount.

Abstract: A developing device includes a supplying chamber, an agitating member, a toner carrier, a retaining part and a detecting part. The supplying chamber accommodates a toner replenished from a toner container. The agitating member agitates the toner in the supplying chamber. The toner carrier supplies an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier with the toner from the supplying chamber. The retaining part recovers and retains the toner dispersed in the vicinity of the image carrier and the toner carrier. The detecting part detects an amount of the toner in the retaining part. The retaining part is moreover configured to replenish the recovered toner from the retaining part to the supplying chamber when the detecting part detects an amount of the toner in the retaining part more than a predetermined amount in a state where the toner is needed to be replenished to the supplying chamber.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus can create various output products using a transparent sheet as intended by a user.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having an inorganic protective layer on a surface thereof, a cleaning blade having an inclined surface cut out at a corner portion on a side of the image bearing member, and a support portion that supports the cleaning blade so that the inclined surface is in contact with the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an open/close member provided to an image forming apparatus body so as to be openable and closable by turning about a turning support point; and a second transfer member attached to the open/close member to be positioned at an operation position with a positioning projecting portion contacting a positioning recessed portion of the image forming apparatus body. A distance between the turning support point and an outer peripheral end of the positioning projecting portion at a time when the open/close member is opened is shorter than the distance with the second transfer member at the operation position. The second transfer member is guided to the operation position, when the open/close member is closed, with the positioning projecting portion first contacting a guide surface of the positioning recessed portion. The guide surface is located on a downstream side along a turning direction of the open/close member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a housing that includes an accommodating portion, a development opening portion, a developing roller, and a supply receiving portion; an opening/closing member; a guiding portion; and an elastic pushing member. The opening/closing member includes a body, a guide portion, and an extended protrusion, the body having a cutaway end portion, the guide portion being provided at left and right end portions of the body except where the cutaway end portion exists, the extended protrusion being formed by causing at least a portion of an end portion of the body to extend and protrude in an opening direction. The housing is provided with a sandwiching holding portion that holds at least a portion of the extended protrusion of the opening/closing member by sandwiching at least the portion of the extended protrusion by the sandwiching holding portion and the supply receiving portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cartridge, a storage medium, a cartridge-side holding device, a body-side holding device, and a reading device. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body. Information relating to the cartridge is stored in the storage medium. The cartridge-side holding device is provided in the cartridge and, when the cartridge is in a non-inserted state in which the cartridge is not inserted into the apparatus body, holds the storage medium. The body-side holding device is provided in the apparatus body and, when the cartridge is in an attached state in which the cartridge is disposed at an operation position in the apparatus body, holds the storage medium transferred from the cartridge-side holding device. The reading device reads the information from the storage medium held by the body-side holding device.

Abstract: A process cartridge includes a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The first cartridge includes a first wall having a first opening, a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening, and a first operating portion configured to operate together with the first shutter. The second cartridge is mountable onto and demountable from the first cartridge and contains a developer. The second cartridge includes a second wall facing the first wall and having a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening, and a second operating portion configured to operate together with the second shutter. The first cartridge further includes a third operating portion. When the second cartridge is mounted onto the first cartridge, the first operating portion and the third operating portion operate together through the second operating portion.

Abstract: A contamination control apparatus for controlling contamination in an image forming device is provided. The apparatus includes an air mover located in the image forming device; a first duct, a first end of the first duct receiving non-contaminated air, and a second end of the first duct being fluidly connected to an air input of the air mover such that the air input receives the non-contaminated air from the first duct; an exhaust duct, a first end of the exhaust duct being fluidly connected to an air output of the air mover such that the exhaust duct receives the non-contaminated air from the air output; and a second duct, a first end of the second duct being positioned such that contaminated air is drawn into the second duct, and a second end of the second duct being fluidly connected to the exhaust duct at a position downstream of the air output of the air mover and upstream of the second end of the exhaust duct.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for generating a holographic image of an object and a background image of the object. In various examples, a holographic image generation apparatus is described, where a light beam from a light source may be provided to a beam splitter, which may split the light beam into a first light beam that can be irradiated on and scattered by the object to generated an object light beam, and a second light beam that can be reflected by a mirror to generate a reference light beam. Some example apparatus can also include a first image sensor configured to detect a first image of interference caused by the reference light beam and the object light beam, and a second image sensor configured to detect a second image of background of the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods herein are directed to three-dimensional image sources for an enhanced Pepper's Ghost Illusion. In one embodiment, a contoured bounce is described, allowing for contorting a bounce to different shapes, giving it enhanced three-dimensional (3D) effect. For instance, the bounce may include certain topography (raised portions), or else may actually comprise various 3D shapes (e.g., cubes, semi-spheres, etc.). In another embodiment, a multi-level image source is described, allowing for multiple image sources (e.g., projected bounces and/or panel displays) to be used and placed at different heights with respect to a transparent viewing screen, thus projecting images that appear at various depths, increasing the three-dimensional (3D) effect of the Pepper's Ghost Illusion. In addition, in one embodiment, the heights of the image sources may be adjusted (e.g., dynamically), making corresponding holographic images change their depth perspective to an audience, further enhancing the 3D effect.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to project a hologram screen to one of a variety of projectors by adjusting the hologram screen to an image size of the one of the variety of projectors so as to approximately correspond to each other so that the hologram screen is formed in front of the one of the variety of projectors, and a hologram projector is separately turned on or off for general use.

Abstract: An optical device including a hologram recording medium that can reproduce an image of a reference member and an irradiation unit that emits a coherent light beam to the optical device. The irradiation unit includes a light source for emitting a coherent light beam and a scanning device capable of adjusting a reflection angle of the coherent light beam emitted from the light source and that makes a reflected coherent light beam scan the hologram recording medium. The light source has light sources for emitting coherent light beams having different wavelength ranges. The hologram recording medium has a plurality of recording areas to be scanned with a plurality of coherent light beams reflected by the scanning device, respectively. Each of the plurality of recording areas has an interference fringe that diffracts a coherent light beam of the corresponding wavelength range.

Abstract: An escapement mechanism including a stop member between a resonator and two escape wheel sets each subjected to a torque, and each including a magnetized or ferromagnetic track over a period. The stop member includes at least one magnetized or ferromagnetic pole shoe, transversely movable with respect to travel of a surface of the track. The pole shoe or the track creates a magnetic field between the pole shoe and the surface, and the pole shoe is confronted by a magnetic field barrier on the track just before each transverse motion of the stop member actuated by the period action of the resonator. The escape wheel sets are each arranged to cooperate alternately with the stop member, and are connected to each other by a direct kinematic connection.

Abstract: To provide an operation stabilizing mechanism, a movement, and a mechanical timepiece allowing a reduction in size while achieving an enhancement in rate precision. An operation stabilizing mechanism includes: an outer carriage and an inner carriage provided so as to be mutually rotatable; a constant-force spring provided between the outer carriage and the inner carriage and configured to impart a rotational force to the inner carriage such that the inner carriage rotates with respect to the outer carriage; a stop wheel provided on the outer carriage; and a stopper configured to perform engaging and releasing operations on the stop wheel upon the rotation of the inner carriage, wherein the rotational axis of the outer carriage and the rotation axis of the inner carriage cross each other.