Abstract: A lithographic projection apparatus is provided with a EUV radiation system that includes a source chamber, a supply constructed and arranged to supply a target material to a predetermined plasma formation position, an optical system formed by three or more mirrors arranged to establish a beam path extending to the target material when the target material is located at the predetermined plasma formation position, and a laser system constructed and arranged to provide a laser beam along the beam path for interaction with the target material to produce an EUV radiation-emitting plasma inside the chamber.

Abstract: An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a primary light source, a system pupil surface and a mirror array. The mirror array is arranged between the primary light source and the system pupil surface. The mirror array includes a plurality of adaptive mirror elements. Each mirror element includes a mirror support and a reflective coating. Each mirror element is configured to direct light produced by the primary light source towards the system pupil surface. The mirror elements can be tiltably mounted with respect to a support structure. The mirror elements include structures having a different coefficient of thermal expansion and being fixedly attached to one another. A temperature control device is configured to variably modify the temperature distribution within the structures to change the shape of the mirror elements.

Abstract: An illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes an optical raster element configured to produce a plurality of secondary light sources located in a system pupil surface. The optical raster element has a plurality of light entrance facets, each being associated with one of the secondary light sources. A beam deflecting device includes a beam deflection array of reflective or transparent beam deflecting elements, each being configured to illuminate a spot on one of the light entrance facets at a position that is variable by changing a deflection angle produced by the beam deflecting element. A control unit is configured to control the beam deflection elements such that variable light patterns assembled from the spots can be formed on at least one of the plurality of light entrance facets.

Abstract: A single reflective optical element is constructed for use in interference lithography. The single reflective optical element is generally made up of at least two, and preferably four, polished reflective strips arranged to have particular angles relative to a laser beam passing through the optical element. A laser beam passing through the optical element will be partially reflected by the reflective strips to generate additional linearly polarized beams. The additional reflected beams overlap with the central laser beam and form an interference pattern as the beams pass out of the optical element. The generated polarized beams and interference pattern can be directed onto a photosensitive material to produce photonic crystals or photonic crystal templates.

Abstract: The exposure apparatus of the present invention has an original holding unit including a holding frame that holds an original M by attracting the outer peripheral portion thereof and a drive unit that is capable of moving the holding frame while changing an irradiation area of the light to be irradiated on a pattern. Here, the holding frame has a penetrating portion, which is capable of flowing gas which is present in a space defined by the original and the holding frame into and out from the space, provided at both front and back lateral sides of the holding frame in the direction of movement thereof, and the penetrating portion has a shape or a configuration such that the pressure loss in the flow of the gas in a first direction is less than the pressure loss in the flow of the gas in a second direction.

Abstract: A detection apparatus, which detects a mark formed on a lower surface of a target object, includes: a first detector which illuminates the mark from an upper surface side of the target object to detect an image of the illuminated mark; a second detector which detects an upper surface position of the target object; and a processor which obtains information indicating a focus position to focus on the mark in the first detector, based on the upper surface position detected by the second detector.

Abstract: A method of forming an overcoat layer. The method comprises providing a substrate having an imaging structure formed thereon, the imaging structure comprising (i) a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer, or (ii) an imaging layer comprising both charge generating material and charge transport material. An overcoat composition is deposited on the imaging structure, the overcoat composition comprising a charge transport molecule, a fluorinated building block, a leveling agent, a liquid carrier and optionally a first catalyst. The fluorinated building block is a fluorinated alkyl monomer substituted at the ? and ? positions with a hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl or aldehyde functional group or the anhydrides of any of those functional groups. The overcoat composition is cured to form an overcoat layer that is a fluorinated structured organic film, the curing comprising treating an outer surface of the overcoat composition with at least one cross-linking process.

Abstract: In an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first intermediate layer contains a polymerized product of a composition including an electron transporting substance having a polymerizable functional group, and a crosslinking agent, and a second intermediate layer contains a binder resin and a metal oxide particle.

Abstract: A photoconductor, including an electroconductive substrate; an intermediate layer overlying the electroconductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer overlying the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer includes a metal oxide and a binder resin, and has a WRa (LLH) less than 0.12 ?m and WRa (LHH) of from 0.03 to 0.2 ?m in a curve.

Abstract: To provide a toner, which contains silica particles containing first silica particles, and second silica particles, wherein the toner is a toner produced by depositing the silica particles on surfaces of base particles, the first silica particles have an average primary particle diameter of 75 nm to 250 nm, the second silica particles have an average primary particle diameter of 10 nm to 50 nm, a mass ratio of the first silica particles to the base particles is 0.010 to 0.040, a mass ratio of the second silica particles to the base particles is 0.005 to 0.030, a liberation ratio of the silica particles from the toner by a ultrasonic vibration method is 5% by mass to 20% by mass, and an amount of particles having primary particle diameters of 30 nm or smaller in the silica particles librated from the toner by the ultrasonic vibration method is 20% by number or less.

Abstract: A method for providing a developer mix having tribocharge uniformity across varying temperature and humidity conditions is provided. A developer mix used in a dual component development (DCD) system typically is a mixture of toner particles and magnetic carrier particles. Tribocharge uniformity is achieved in the developer mix by performing the step of treating the surface of the magnetic carrier particles with surface additives before the magnetic carrier particles are mixed with the toner particles. Surface additives include but are not limited to silica, titania and alumina.

Abstract: Methods of Printing and Electrostatic Ink Compositions Herein are disclosed electrostatic ink compositions, methods of printing and printed substrates. In some examples, the electrostatic ink composition comprises a carrier liquid, particles comprising a graft co-polymer comprising an acrylate polymer backbone onto which has been grafted polysiloxane side chains, wherein the particles are dispersed in the carrier liquid.

Abstract: A part material for printing three-dimensional parts with an electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system, the part material including a composition having an engineering-grade thermoplastic material and a charge control agent. The part material is provided in a powder form having a controlled particle size, and is configured for use in the electrophotography-based additive manufacturing system having a layer transfusion assembly for printing the three-dimensional parts in a layer-by-layer manner.

Abstract: An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes a binder resin, a colorant, and 4-nitro-o-anisidine, wherein the colorant contains a compound represented by the following formula (I), a content of the colorant in the toner is from 1.0% by weight to 20.0% by weight, and a content of 4-nitro-o-anisidine in the toner is from 0.1 ppm to 1,000 ppm based on the weight: wherein R represents an organic group.

Abstract: An electrostatic latent image developing toner includes toner particles that each include a toner core and a shell layer disposed over a surface of the toner core. The shell layer contains a first shell resin and a second shell resin. The first shell resin is a hydrophilic thermoplastic resin, a hydrophobic thermoplastic resin, or a hydrophobic thermosetting resin. The second shell resin is a hydrophilic thermosetting resin. The first shell resin includes a repeating unit having an alcoholic hydroxyl group.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention relates to a polymeric dispersant for a liquid developer, which is obtained by copolymerizing at least an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an amino group, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an alkyl group with a carbon number of 9 to 24, and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer represented by general formula (1) shown below: CH2?C(R1)COO(AO)nR2??General formula (1) wherein, R1 represents H or CH3, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having a carbon number of 1 to 22, n represents an integer of 1 to 200, and A represents an alkylene group having a carbon number of 2 to 4.

Abstract: A liquid developer contains an electrically insulating liquid carrier and toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier. Each toner particle includes a core and a shell layer that is formed on a surface of the core and contains a thermosetting resin.

Abstract: A powder detector to detect an amount of powder in the powder container includes a wall without a through hole, a vibration plate attached to an inner face of the wall, a contact member to vibrate the vibration plate, and a vibration detector to detect a vibration state of the vibration plate. The vibration detector is attached to an outer face of the wall to face the vibration plate via the wall. The powder has flowability, and the vibration state of the vibration plate is affected by the powder in the powder container.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprising a developing agent storage section including a discharge port for discharging the developing agent; a developing agent mixer configured inside the developing agent storage section to stir the developing agent and move the developing agent towards the discharge port; a motor which rotates at least the developing agent mixer; a motor control section which rotates the motor at either a first speed at which the developing agent is not discharged from the discharge port or a second speed higher than the first speed to discharge the developing agent from the discharge port; and a device control section which controls the motor control section to switch the rotation speed of the motor to the second speed at a timing different from the timing when the developing roller develops the electrostatic latent image.

Abstract: A developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer includes: a toner seal member for unsealably sealing an opening of the developer accommodating container; an unsealing member, connected to an end portion of the toner seal member, for unsealing the opening by moving at least a part of the toner seal member; and an auxiliary unsealing member for assisting unsealing by changing a pulling direction of the toner seal member by the unsealing member. The auxiliary unsealing member includes a shaft portion or a projected portion. The shaft portion or the projected portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the developer accommodating container.

Abstract: A tension roller which is brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt and is rotated and which can be moved to a first position where the belt is in a relaxed state and a second position where the belt is in a tensioned state, a butting member which butts against the belt, a force application unit which applies, to the butting member, a force acting in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the belt and a movement mechanism which moves the tension roller to the first position and the second position are provided. When the belt is rotated, the butting member is moved in the rotation direction of the belt by a friction force with the belt, and the movement mechanism moves the tension roller from the first position to the second position by the movement of the butting member in the rotation direction of the belt.

Abstract: An image forming unit forms a toner image on an image carrier, and transfers the toner image to a recording medium. A voltage generation circuit generates a high voltage used for the image forming unit. A control circuit is connected to the voltage generation circuit via a cable, and controls the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit. A detection unit detects a current flowing in a load of the image forming unit to which the high voltage generated by the voltage generation circuit is applied. A determination unit determines an error in accordance with a current range in which the current detected by the detection unit falls. The current range is included among a plurality of current ranges that are in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of errors.

Abstract: A method and device for digital printing to a recording medium with liquid print color is described. In a method for digital printing, a print image defined by print data is printed onto the recording medium via application of the liquid print color. After the application of the liquid print color onto the recording medium, the recording medium can be heated to vaporize the carrier fluid. Upon heating, air is supplied that mixes with the vapor to form a combustible gas. The combustible gas can be supplied to a combustion chamber and converted into waste gas. In a method for digital printing, an areal coverage can be determined. The areal coverage describes a quantity of color applied onto the recording medium by the carrier fluid. Further, the air supply can be proportionally controlled to the determined areal coverage.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a fuser assembly including a heat transfer member and a backup member positioned to engage the heat transfer member thereby defining a fusing nip therewith. A motor is coupled to the backup member for rotating the backup member. A controller coupled to the fuser assembly controls the motor using time-based commutation for a period of time to rotate the backup member at a slower speed relative to a speed for performing a toner fusing operation. In memory, at least one lookup table is stored having entries which, when sequentially accessed by the controller during the time-based commutation, are used to generate one or more drive signals for the motor to cause current flowing through windings of the motor to have a substantially sinusoidal waveform.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing unit configured to heat a recording medium on which a recording agent image is formed by an image forming unit, to fix the recording agent image; and a control unit configured to determine, as an image formation start temperature, a temperature of the fixing unit for making the image forming unit start image formation such that a timing at which the recording medium reaches the fixing unit is matched with a timing at which a temperature of the fixing unit is raised to fixing temperature allowing fixing as a result of starting feeding power from an external power supply to a heating unit configured to heat the fixing unit on the basis of a voltage value of the power, and make the image forming unit start image formation when a temperature of the fixing unit reaches the image formation start temperature.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a nip pad, a press roller, a driving portion, and a heat generation source. The fixing belt has an endless shape. The nip pad is located on an inner circumferential side of the fixing belt. The nip pad presses the fixing belt. The press roller presses the fixing belt along with the nip pad. The driving portion moves the press roller toward the nip pad. The heat generation source causes the fixing belt to generate heat. A control section controls an image forming section and the fixing device. The nip pad includes a protrusion. The protrusion protrudes toward an outer circumference of the fixing belt and a downstream side of the nip. The control section changes a movement amount of a protrusion to the press roller.

Abstract: A heating device includes a belt member that is rotated, plural heating elements that are arranged in a width direction of the belt member and generate heat so as to heat the belt member, plural resistance elements that have positive temperature coefficients and are connected to the plural heating elements such that each of the plural resistance elements is connected in series with a corresponding one of the plural heating elements, and a base material that includes a heat-conductive metal layer and a pair of heat-resistant metal layers between which the heat-conductive metal layer is interposed and has a surface on which the plural heating elements and the plural resistance elements are disposed. A temperature of the belt member is reduced by an increase in resistances of the plural resistance elements caused by an increase in temperatures of the plural resistance elements.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus having a tubular shape, a heater, a heat conduction member that contacts a surface of the heater, a support member configured to support the heater via the heat conduction member, a roller that forms a nip portion with the heater via the film, and a connector arranged in any one of end portions of the heater, wherein the heat conduction member includes a restriction portion configured to restrict a movement of the heat conduction member, and wherein the restriction portion is arranged only in a region that is closer to the connector than a position, of the nip portion, to which the maximum pressure is applied.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operator, a receiver, and a controller. The operator accepts print instruction is input. The receiver receives a print instruction from an external terminal. The controller switches one of a standard mode and a quiet mode in which operating noise is lower than that in the standard mode. The controller also executes a print operation based on the print instruction from the operator in the standard mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus may include an image forming unit configured to form an image on a printing medium and a control unit configured to perform at least one of a user authentication operation, an image forming preparation operation, and an image forming operation according to distance information between a portable electronic device and the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an exposure unit, a developing unit that develops an electrostatic latent image using toner, a detection unit that detects an amount of the toner contained in the developing unit, and a calculation unit that calculates a difference value between the amount of detected toner detected and a target toner amount. In addition, an accumulation unit accumulates the calculated difference value, and a controller controls toner replenishing based on the calculated difference value and the accumulated value. A determination unit determines, based on an amount of the consumed toner and an amount of the contained toner, whether or not an error of an amount of replenished toner is larger than a threshold value, and determines, based on the number of times that the error is determined, whether or not replacement of the container is required.

Abstract: A sheet feeder of a friction pad separation type, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes a feeder body, a rotary feed body, a separation body, a holder, and a leaf spring. The rotary feed body is disposed in the feeder body and feeds a recording medium along a sheet conveying direction. The separation body is fixed to the feeder body while facing the rotary feed body. The separation body separates the recording medium with the rotary feed body. The holder has a rotary shaft and holds the separation body while being rotatably supported by the rotary shaft. The leaf spring has a flexible deforming part that contacts an area adjacent to the rotary shaft and a line of action of a pressing force of the flexible deforming part passing close by the rotary shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus adapted for presenting a sheet of media to an image transfer structure. The apparatus includes a registration baffle positioned in an offset relationship relative to the image transfer structure and a pre-transfer baffle assembly including a first baffle oppositely disposed to a second baffle, the pre-transfer assembly generally forms an “S” shape and is adapted for guiding the sheet of media from the registration baffle to the image transfer structure. The pre-transfer baffle assembly is arranged in a first position adapted for guiding the sheet of media toward the image transfer structure at an angle of less than ninety degrees, and the pre-transfer baffle automatically begins rotation to a second position as the sheet of media reaches a pre-determined position within a paper path.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section; a pair of rollers; a displacement detection section; a displacement correction section; a translation amount determination section; and a control section configured to refer to a translation control table, operate the displacement correction section in accordance with a translation command value corresponding to a detection result obtained by the displacement detection section, obtain at a predetermined timing a relationship between the translation command value and a translation amount of the sheet, and update the translation control table on the basis of the relationship. The control section updates the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable, but does not update the translation control table when a displacement of a sheet is correctable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus (1) includes a case body (3) having a hollow space (2) in which a sheet storing part (6) and an image forming part (7) are to be housed. The case body (3) has four pillars (31), (32), (33), (34) and a conveying frame (39). The four pillars (31), (32), (33), (34) are respectively disposed at four corners of the hollow space (2). The conveying frame (39) is disposed between adjacent two pillars (32), (34) of the four pillars (31), (32), (33), (34) and configured to form a conveying path (36) of a sheet from the sheet storing part (6) to the image forming part (7). The conveying frame (39) has at least one vertical column-shaped projection (61) on a pillar side end face. The vertical column-shaped projection (61) is integrally coupled to the pillar (32).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposure unit, a developing unit, a transferer, a fixer, a determiner, a blower, and a controller. The exposure unit exposes an image bearing member to light according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit is configured to develop the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The transferer transfers the toner image onto a recording medium. The fixer heat fixes the toner image to the recording medium. The determiner determines a state of at least one of a temperature and a humidity inside the image forming apparatus. The blower generates airflow inside the image forming apparatus. The controller reduces the airflow volume of the blower based on a determination result of the determiner as the degree of the occurrence of dew condensation increases.

Abstract: There is provided an illumination device including: a light guide plate in which a light diffusion pattern of diffusing incident light is formed to have density that is coarse on one side and gets denser toward the other side; a first light source which is provided on a side corresponding to the one side of the light diffusion pattern in the light guide plate; and a second light source which is provided on a side corresponding to the other side of the light diffusion pattern in the light guide plate.

Abstract: A watch case having a through-hole, an operating member including an operating shaft to be inserted to the through-hole of the watch case, an exterior member mounted on the operating member and configured to be displaced in a shaft direction of the operating shaft and be rotated together with the operating member, and a buffer member located between the operating member and the exterior member are provided. Therefore, when the exterior member receives impact from outside, the impact can be buffered by the buffer member. As a result, the operating member can be prevented from being damaged because the impact from the outside is not directly transmitted to the operating member, thereby improving impact resistance.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece that displays time based on city data related to the time of a city includes: a second home time storage area and a third world time storage area that store additional city data related to the time of an additional city transmitted from an external device; a storage area other than the second home time storage area and the third world time storage area; and a processing unit that clears the additional city data stored in the second home time storage area and the third world time storage area when selected data is switched from the additional city data stored in the second home time storage area and the third world time storage area to the city data stored in the storage area.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece has a time display unit including a dial made from a non-conductive material, and hands; and a movement that drives the hands. The movement includes a circuit board, a planar antenna attached to the circuit board, a stepper motor that drives the hands, and a battery. The planar antenna, the stepper motor, and the battery are disposed to positions overlapping the time display unit in plan view, and not overlapping each other in plan view.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dial plate of an intelligent wristwatch, which includes a body, a first screen, a second screen, and a third screen. The first screen is rotatably connected to the body by a first rotary axle. The second screen is rotatably connected to the body by a second rotary axle. The third screen is rotatably connected to the body by a third rotary axle. The second rotary axle and the third rotary axle are opposite to and parallel to each other. The first rotary axle is perpendicular to the second rotary axle. Vertical distances of the first rotary axle, the second rotary axle, and the third rotary axle from the body are reduced in sequence so that the first screen, the second screen, and the third screen are allowed to overlap each other on the body. Also disclosed is an intelligent wristwatch having an expandable display screen.

Abstract: A portable modularized stack device includes a flexible wristband and an electronic module. The flexible wristband has a belt which is embedded with wires therein. The belt has a receiving portion formed thereon, a first connector connected at one end of the belt and a second connector connected at the other end of the belt. The first connector and the second connector are matched correspondingly. The flexible wristband further has a third connector. The electronic module has a fourth connector and is disposed on the receiving portion of the flexible wristband. The fourth connector is connected to the third connector. Thus, the present invention can be varied and expanded by stacking another electronic device thereon, and the flexible wristband can be used as a transmission line.

Abstract: An automatic programming apparatus includes a machining-shape generating unit configured to generate second machining shapes for each of machining processes from each of a plurality of first machining shapes input from outside; a machining-order editing unit configured to receive an input of execution order of the machining processes; a machining-shape adjusting unit configured to extend, among a plurality of the second machining shapes having a same tool direction, which is a direction that a tool pierces, one of the second machining shapes in a direction opposite to the tool direction, delete, from the other machining shape that overlaps the one second machining shape because of the extension of the one second machining shape, a portion of the overlap, and generate a third machining shape; and a control-command generating unit configured to generate, based on the third machining shape and the input execution order, a control command.

Abstract: Data comprising a request specifying a desired change in electrical load for a defined period of time is received. The electrical load is associated with a plurality of resources under control of resource agents and on a utility grid. Available capacity of resources within the control of each resource agent over the defined period of time is determined. Each available capacity is determined at least using a resource load model. Using the determined available capacity of resources over the defined period of time, resource scheduling instructions are calculated for a subset of resources. The resource scheduling instructions satisfy the desired change in electrical load of the request. Data characterizing the resource scheduling instructions is provided. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.

Abstract: An electric device includes operation unit, working unit, and a number-of-times detecting unit that counts the number of times of instructions being against energy savings. In addition, the device includes time measuring unit that measures time from when the number-of-times detecting unit starts the counting, and a controller that generates a signal to induce a modification of a first energy-saving pattern. When the time is within a first predetermined period, the controller generates a signal that requires the modification of the first energy-saving pattern into a more lenient second energy-saving pattern, with the time being from when time measuring unit starts the measurement to when the number of the times counted by the number-of-times detecting unit reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure may include systems and methods for tracking the quality and efficiency of the machine instructions to operate an associated controller. The method may include: receiving, by at least one processor, a plurality of rules associated with an optimization procedure for a plurality of machine instructions for operating an associated controller; determining an evaluation, by the at least one processor, for the plurality of machine instructions based at least in part on the plurality of rules; and outputting the evaluation.

Abstract: A device information display apparatus displaying device information acquired by communicating with a field device may include a storage unit that associates and stores first position information indicating a position at which the device information displayed on the display device is acquired and reproduction information for reproducing display content of the display device that has been modified based on an operation instruction for the device information displayed on the display device; a position information acquisition unit that acquires second position information indicating a current position of the device information display apparatus; and a display control unit that calculates a distance between positions indicated by the first position information and the second position information, wherein if the distance is no greater than a prescribed reference distance, the reproduced information corresponding to the first position information is used to reproduce the display content of the display device on the

Abstract: A system and method to monitor and control the valves in industrial process control and automation using Near-Field Communication (NFC) is disclosed. The system comprises a NFC-Equipment Interface Unit (NFC-EIU) to acquire parameters from the valves through a port and send the parameters to any handheld device by NFC for analysis. The NFC-EIU on receiving the analysis results from the handheld device can control the valves too.

Abstract: An exemplary method and apparatus are directed to distributed waveform recording for fault monitoring and analysis of a fault condition in a power distribution system. One or more instrument transformers along with merging units and a plurality of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) distributed in a plurality of hierarchical levels. The distributed waveform recording corresponds to a fault event at different levels in the power distribution system data is carried out by at least two devices configured to detect an event for recording and perform waveform recording. The data used for waveform recording and the data for detection of the event are based on a single stream of the sampled measured value data and are thereby are time synchronized.

Abstract: A household appliance control method sets a number of orientations of a number of household appliances in a particular area. Each orientation corresponds to one of the household appliances. A sliding operation applied to a touch screen of an electronic device is obtained. When a direction of the sliding operation matches the orientation of one of the household appliances, a control signal is sent to a corresponding household appliance to control the household appliance to perform a corresponding function.