Abstract: A lithographic apparatus comprising a projection system configured to project a patterned radiation beam to form an exposure area on a substrate held on a substrate table, the lithographic apparatus further comprising a cooling apparatus (40) for cooling the substrate, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises a cooling element (42, 44) located above the substrate table and adjacent to the exposure area, the cooling element being configured to remove heat from the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for cleaning a partial area of a substrate, in particular a photomask, are described.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for aligning a template and a substrate, the method including obtaining a moiré image based on an interaction of light between corresponding features of the template and the substrate, the moiré image including a plurality of moiré fringe strips; compressing each moiré fringe strip of the moiré image by an optical lens array based on a pixel height of an acquisition device, the acquisition device including one or more line scan cameras; processing the compressed moiré image by each of the line scan cameras of the acquisition device to determine a misalignment between the template and the substrate; and based on the determined misalignment, adjusting a relative positioning between the template and the substrate.

Abstract: A method of measuring a position of an alignment target on a substrate using an optical system. The method includes measuring a sub-segmented target by illuminating the sub-segmented target with radiation and detecting radiation diffracted by the sub-segmented target using a detector system to obtain signals containing positional information of the one sub-segmented target. The sub-segmented target has structures arranged periodically in at least a first direction, at least some of the structures including smaller sub-structures, and each sub-segmented target is formed with a positional offset between the structures and the sub-structures that is a combination of both known and unknown components. The signals, together with information on differences between known offsets of the sub-segmented target are used to calculate a measured position of an alignment target which is corrected for the unknown component of the positional offset.

Abstract: A method for pre-aligning a substrate includes the steps of: 1) providing a substrate having a plurality of marks are arranged circumferentially on a surface thereof, wherein each of the plurality of marks consists of at least one first stripe extending in a first direction and at least one second stripe extending in a first direction; 2) aligning a center of the substrate with a given point on a substrate carrier stage; 3) illuminating a mark selected from the plurality of marks on the surface of the substrate with light and obtaining an image of the selected mark; 4) processing the image to obtain first projection data corresponding to the first direction and second projection data corresponding to the second direction; 5) identifying a set of first peak values corresponding to the at least one first stripe of the selected mark from the first projection data and a set of second peak values corresponding to the at least one second stripe of the selected mark from the second projection data; 6) selecting firs

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor which, even when mounted on a high-image-quality monochrome high-speed printer or tandem color printer including a cleaner-less process of a non-magnetic single-component contact development system using a polymerized toner, inhibits the generation of fine black spots or color spots and suppresses the occurrence of toner filming during the initial printing under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment and thereby stably attains a high image quality in a variety of environments.

Abstract: In an example of a method for reducing contamination, a purified imaging oil is formed by filtering an imaging oil through an imaging oil filter, and then filtering the imaging oil through a polar absorbent filter. A surface of an amorphous silicon photoconductor of a liquid electrophotographic printing apparatus is maintained by periodically applying the purified imaging oil to the amorphous silicon photoconductor.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member with suppressed potential variation even in the case that a protective layer including a cured material of a composition having a polymerizable functional group is used is provided. An electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, a charge generation layer, a charge transport layer containing a charge transporting material, and a protective layer, in the order presented, wherein the charge transport layer contains a polycarbonate resin having a structure selected from a group A and a structure selected from a group B, and the protective layer includes a cured material of a composition containing a compound having at least a functional group selected from chain-polymerizable functional groups and sequential polymerizable functional groups.

Abstract: A toner comprising: a toner particle that contains a binder resin and a wax, wherein the binder resin contains a styrene-acrylic copolymer, the content of the styrene-acrylic copolymer in the binder resin is at least 50 mass %, the wax contains a wax A, at least 15.0 mass parts of the wax A compatibilizes at 100° C. with 100 mass parts of a specific styrene—butyl acrylate copolymer, and in a cross section of the toner particle observed using a scanning transmission electron microscope, domains of the wax are present, the average number of the domains is from 20 to 2,000, and using r1 for the average major diameter of the domains and r2 for the average minor diameter of the domains, r1 is from 0.03 ?m to 1.00 ?m, and the ratio of r1 to r2 is from 1.0 to 3.0.

Abstract: The present disclosure is drawn to an electrostatic ink composition comprising a resin having a Mw of 10,000 or less and a conductive species. Also disclosed herein is a substrate on which is electrostatically printed a conductive trace, wherein the trace comprises a resin having a Mw of 10,000 or less and a conductive species. Further disclosed herein is a method of electrophotographic printing an electrostatic ink composition comprising a resin having a Mw of 10,000 or less and a conductive species.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a liquid electrophotographic composition comprising a thermoplastic polymer resin, a charge adjuvant, microspheres, and a liquid carrier. Each microsphere comprises a shell of material encapsulating a gas. The microspheres are present in an amount of 5 to 90 weight % of the total weight of solids in the composition.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed an electrostatic ink composition, wherein the composition is formable by combining: chargeable particles comprising a resin comprising a polymer having acidic side groups, and a cyclic anhydride. Also disclosed herein is a method of forming an electrostatic ink composition, and a method of electrostatic printing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section. The image forming section includes: a first toner image forming unit that forms a textile printing toner image with a textile printing toner; and a second toner image forming unit that forms a first dyeing-target toner image with a dyeing-target toner. The image forming section disposes the textile printing toner image and the first dyeing-target toner image in this order on a print medium. The textile printing toner includes a textile printing dye. The dyeing-target toner includes a polymer compound that is to be dyed with the textile printing dye.

Abstract: A charging device includes a first charging unit and a second charging unit. The first charging unit electrostatically charges a surface of an image bearing member that comes into contact with a medium onto which an image is to be ultimately transferred. The first charging unit is disposed in correspondence with an entire region of the image bearing member in a first scanning direction. The second charging unit is disposed in an overlapping region where a non-passing region of a small-width medium and a passing region of a maximum-usable-width medium overlap when viewed in the first scanning direction. The small-width medium has a width smaller than a maximum usable width of the maximum-usable-width medium. The second charging unit electrostatically charges the overlapping region.

Abstract: A charging member includes an electro-conductive substrate, an elastic layer, and a surface layer provided in this order. The elastic layer has, on an outer surface thereof, concave portions that are independent of each other, and hold insulating particles. The insulating particle is exposed to the surface of the elastic layer. A site in which an outer edge of the projection image derived from each of the insulating particles and an outer edge of a projection image derived from each of the concave portions are separated, exists. The charging member has convex portions derived from the insulating particles exposed to the surface of the elastic layer, and concave portions derived from the concave portions of the elastic layer. The surface layer has a volume resistivity of 1.0×1015 ?cm or more.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer formed on a surface; a charging device that electrically charges the surface of the photoreceptor through electric discharge between the charging device and the photoreceptor; and a hardware processor that: calculates a peak-to-peak voltage to be applied to the charging device, using a measured value of a relative dielectric constant of the charging device, the relative dielectric constant having been measured in advance; and controls a voltage to be applied to the charging device, to apply the peak-to-peak voltage calculated by the hardware processor to the charging device.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit, an irradiation unit, an image capturing unit configured to capture a plurality of times the light radiated by the irradiation unit and reflected on the recording material as surface images, an image formation unit, and a control unit, wherein the conveyance unit accelerates or decelerates a conveyance speed of the recording material in at least a part of an image capturing period during which the image capturing unit captures the surface images the plurality of times, and wherein the control unit obtains a feature quantity from a plurality of surface images captured by the image capturing unit and controls the image forming condition based on the obtained feature quantity and a threshold value set according to the conveyance speed of the recording material in the image capturing period.

Abstract: In one example, a toner cartridge for a printer includes interconnected interior upper and lower toner supply chambers surrounding an exterior opening defined in part by diverging sidewalls and a sloping ceiling.

Abstract: A development device includes a power source capable of applying a second voltage higher than a first voltage to be applied to a developer bearing member, a scattering prevention electrode that is arranged opposite the developer bearing member and to which the second voltage is applied from the power source, and a step-down circuit. The step-down circuit steps down a voltage from the power source from the second voltage to the first voltage to apply the stepped-down voltage to the developer bearing member.

Abstract: A developing device includes a developing container, a developing sleeve, a magnet and grooves provided at a surface of the sleeve and formed along a direction crossing a circumferential direction of the sleeve. In a cross-section, each of the grooves is formed by a flat bottom portion contacting a carrier particle and a pair of side surface portions provided in both sides of the flat bottom portion with respect to the circumferential direction of the sleeve and satisfies the following relationship: r<w<2r, 2×r<L, and r/2?s<2r. In the above, r is a volume-average particle size of the carrier particles, w is a length of the flat bottom portion, L is a width between the side surface portions at the surface of the sleeve, and s is a depth of each of the grooves.

Abstract: An image forming method includes forming an image with a toner using a photoconductor in which an intermediate layer and a photosensitive layer including a charge generating layer and a charge transport layer are formed overlying an electroconductive substrate, wherein the ionization potential of the surface of the photoconductor and the ionization potential of the surface of the toner satisfy the following relations 1 and 2, |Ip (the surface of the photoconductor)?Ip (the surface of the toner)|?0.18 (eV)?? Relation 1 5.45 (eV)?Ip (the surface of the photoconductor)?5.53 (eV)?? Relation 2 where Ip (the surface of the photoconductor) represents the ionization potential of the surface of the photoconductor and Ip (the surface of the toner) represents the ionization potential of the surface of the toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a control circuit having a plurality of semiconductor elements configured to perform switching between ON and OFF of a plurality of heat generating blocks, and a power interrupting unit configured to be activated so as to interrupt power being supplied to the plurality of semiconductor elements when a heater overheats. Of the plurality of semiconductor elements, a first semiconductor element to supply power to a first heat generating block, is connected, in series, to a second semiconductor element to supply power to a second heat generating block. In addition, when the power interrupting unit is not activated, the second heat generating block is controlled by controlling only the second semiconductor element, and, when the power interrupting unit is not activated, the first heat generating block is controlled by controlling the first semiconductor element and the second semiconductor element.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressuring member, a temperature sensing part and an air blow controlling part. The fixing member heated by a heat source heats a toner image on the recording medium. The temperature sensing part includes an infrared sensing element sensing infrared rays from the fixing member and a condensing member condensing the infrared rays to the infrared sensing element. The air blow controlling part executes and stops the air blow to the temperature sensing part. Detection temperature of the fixing member is calculated with a sensing value by the infrared sensing element. The detection temperature or control temperature of the heat source is corrected with air blow condition by the air blow controlling part and temperature deference between the infrared sensing element and the condensing member. Heating of the fixing member is controlled with the corrected detection temperature or the corrected control temperature.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, having a body, a fuser to fix an image on a recording medium by heat, an interface to accept a value for a first time, which is between an end of fixing by the fuser until entry into a low power-consuming condition for the heater, a fan, and a controller, is provided. The controller sets a second time being a predetermined length and subtract the second time from the first time to obtain a third time. If the third time is given a positive value, the controller continues driving the fan after the end of the fixing and throughout the third time, and inactivates the fan after the third time. If the third time is given a value smaller than or equal to zero, the controller inactivates the fan during the first time before the entry into the low power-consuming condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus that includes a heater including a plurality of independently controllable heating blocks in a longitudinal direction thereof, each including a first conductor, a second conductor, and a heating element. At least one of electrodes corresponding to the respective heating blocks is disposed in an area where the heating element is located in the longitudinal direction on a second surface of the heater that is opposite to a first surface that comes into contact with an endless belt. An electrical contact is arranged so as to face the second surface of the heater. An overheating occurring in a no-media passage portion when an image formed on a recording material having a small size is heated is suppressed or reduced.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a frame, a film, a component portion engaging with the frame, and a roller that forms a nip with the film. The component portion includes a supporting portion provided inside the film, and including a first opposing surface opposing an inner surface of the film, and a second opposing surface opposing the inner surface of the film. Each of the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface is a surface forming a substantially right angle with an engaging surface, which is a surface on which the component portion engages with the frame and on which the component portion opposes a flat surface portion of the frame. When the component portion is seen in the longitudinal direction of the film, a contour of the first opposing surface is greater than a contour of the second opposing surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a member arranged in contact with or in proximity to an image carrier, a sensor for measuring an electrical characteristic value of the member, a power supply which switches from a first mode in which one of a constant current and a constant voltage is applied to the member to a second mode in which the other is applied to the member, a storage which stores first correspondence between an amount of use of the member in the first mode and the electrical characteristic value, and a hardware processor. The hardware processor obtains second correspondence between the electrical characteristic value measured with the sensor and the amount of use of the member in the first mode and predicts a serviceable period of the member when the power supply is switched to the second mode based on the first and the second correspondences.

Abstract: A method of adjusting an imaging apparatus comprises printing a set of test patches, the set of test patches comprising a solid color patch, a grey level patch and a substrate patch. The optical densities of the set of test patches are determined. The method comprises simultaneously correcting a solid optical density value (Solid OD), relating to the solid color patch and an associated grey level (LUT) value relating to the grey level patch.

Abstract: A method for detecting a non-authentic slave component in an electronic device which includes receiving a command from a master component in the device, identifying a response to the command based upon a frequency of a plurality of clock pulses used by the master component while sending the command, and sending the response to the master component for use as a basis in determining whether the slave component is one of an authentic slave component and a non-authentic slave component. The disclosed method may be performed by a replaceable slave component in an imaging device including a slave circuit communicating with a master circuit of the master component along a serial communications interface. The master circuit includes an instruction to change a clock frequency when sending a command to the slave circuit to trigger a unique response from slave circuits of authentic slave components.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet includes an image-forming unit that forms the image on the sheet, and a conveying unit that conveys the sheet on which the image is formed by the image-forming unit. The conveying unit includes a pair of first rollers that discharges the sheet to the outside of the image-forming apparatus and a pair of second rollers that conveys the sheet in a direction in which the sheet is discharged to the outside of the image-forming apparatus and that subsequently switches a conveyance direction of the sheet to an opposite direction to convey the sheet again to the image-forming unit. The pair of the first rollers and the pair of the second rollers partially overlap when viewed in a width direction of the sheet that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process cartridge comprising: a housing; a rotatable component; a driving force receiver configured to transmit a driving force to the rotatable component; an elastic member; wherein when the process cartridge is installed in an imaging device comprising a driving head, the driving force receiver has a first state and a second state relative to the driving head, the first state being a state in which the driving force receiver contacts the driving head and is in a pre-engaged position and the second state being a state in which the driving force receiver is engaged by the driving head; wherein when the driving force receiver is in the first state relative to the driving head, the elastic member is configured to urge the driving force receiver to transition from the first state to the second state as a result of rotation of the driving head.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning device in which both sidewalls of a scraper holding unit are formed so that a center line between both the sidewalls of the scraper holding unit is directed substantially toward the center of a fur brush.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes: a developing roller rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction; a developing roller gear rotatable together with the developing roller; a coupling gear rotatable about a second axis extending in the first direction; and a joint rotatable together with the coupling gear. The coupling gear is meshingly engaging with the developing roller gear. The joint is pivotally movable relative to the coupling gear about a third axis extending in a second direction. The joint includes: a first protrusion extending in a first radial direction; and a second protrusion extending in a second radial direction opposite to the first radial direction. The second protrusion is positioned away from and is aligned with the first protrusion in a diametrical direction including the first radial direction and the second radial direction. The second direction crosses the first radial direction and the second radial direction.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a cartridge main body, a protection member, a rib of the cartridge main body, and a pair of guides of the protection member, wherein an upstream-side guide of the guides can guide the rib when the cartridge main body is inserted into a device main body, and terminates the guide after allowing the cartridge main body to be inserted up to a position where the cartridge main body becomes independent of the device main body.

Abstract: A cartridge that can be inserted in an apparatus main body of an image forming apparatus by moving along an axial direction of an image bearing member includes the image bearing member, a frame configured to support the image bearing member, a storage member configured to store therein information on the cartridge, and include an electrical contact, and a first pressed section and a second pressed portion configured to be pressed by the apparatus main body. The electrical contact is disposed between the first pressed section and the second pressed section, and is configured to be in contact with the main body contact on a lower side in a state where the cartridge is attached to the apparatus main body.

Abstract: Light reflected from an illuminated object is mixed with a reference beam and sensed at a sensor array of a digital hologram apparatus. Digital hologram data, determined from the sensed light, is dependent upon complex valued reflection coefficients of the object and upon phase perturbations in propagation paths between the object and the sensor array. Reflectance values, which may be dependent upon expected values of the absolute square of the reflection coefficients, and phase perturbations are determined for which a test function is at an extremum, where the test function contains a data fidelity term dependent upon the hologram data from a single hologram, a first regularization term dependent upon the phase perturbations and a second regularization term dependent upon the reflectance values. An image of the object may be formed from the reflectance values and a wavefront of the reflected light may be determined from the phase perturbations.

Abstract: A decorative element for watches, comprising: a framework comprising arms (12) delimiting a plurality of decorative areas (Zi) and forming support elements, and a plurality of decorative components (20) fixed to the arms of the skeleton, each decorative component occupying a decorative area.

Abstract: A driving device includes a stepping motor having a rotor, a coil for rotating the rotor, and a processor that drives the stepping motor. The processor generates a driving pulse for rotating the rotor of the stepping motor to a prescribed position, and outputs the driving pulse to the coil; and generates a rotation assistance pulse for rotating the rotor of the stepping motor at a prescribed speed, and outputs the rotation assistance pulse to the coil, after outputting the driving pulse but before EMF is produced by the rotation of the rotor of the stepping motor caused by the driving pulse.

Abstract: A control device for tuning a servo motor is suggested. The control device comprises a calculation unit configured to determine a current proportional speed gain of the servo motor and to calculate a stabilization time ratio based on a current stabilization time of the servo motor and a target stabilization time, a determination unit configured to select a gain determination process based on the calculated stabilization time ratio, to determine a next proportional speed gain using the selected gain determination process starting from the current proportional speed gain, wherein the calculation unit is further configured to update parameters of the servo motor according to the determined next proportional speed gain, and a control unit configured to generate a control signal for controlling the servo motor for driving a load based on the updated parameters.

Abstract: A machining time estimating apparatus is stored with mechanical configuration-time data, which are control parameters relating to respective machining times of a plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools, and is provided with a machining time estimation unit, configured to estimate the machining time required for machining performed based on an NC command in a first one of the plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools, and a mechanical configuration difference time calculation unit configured to calculate machining times required for machining performed based on the NC command in the other ones of the plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools than the first numerically-controlled machine tool, based on the respective mechanical configuration-time data of the plurality of numerically-controlled machine tools.

Abstract: A system for interacting with humans in an automation environment includes an automation system machine, one or more processors and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium in operable communication with the processors. The computer-readable storage medium comprises one or more programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processors to select a human from a plurality of humans working in the automation environment; retrieve information related to the human using a human programming interface (HPI); and perform one or more actions with the automation system machine based on the information related to the human.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a content-based control system for controlling a smart home. The control system includes a client terminal connectable to a media content provider and a home automation interface operable to connect with a smart home controller. The system may allow settings and ambience to be controlled according to current media content being consumed and the media consumers social environment.

Abstract: A method adapted to provide alert signals to individuals or institutions and/or control signals to utilities control units to automatically stop the flow of gas, water, electricity, oil, etc., such signals being delivered in response to the detection of seismic events, the detection occurring via ground-based monitoring systems and/or satellite-based monitoring systems. The alert and/or control signals are distributed through various broadcasting systems or similar channels of communication, such as radio frequency transmitters, Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers and/or security monitoring service providers, to individuals and/or facilities through smartphones, landline telephones, tablets, PC's, voice-controlled web communication devices or the like and/or to signal receivers on utilities control units.

Abstract: Disclosed is an injection molding system including: a state observation section observing, when injection molding is performed, physical-amounts relating to the injection molding that is being performed; a physical-amount data storage section storing the physical-amount data; a reward-conditions setting section setting reward conditions for machine learning; a reward calculation section calculating a reward based on the physical-amount data and the reward conditions; an operating-conditions adjustment learning section performing machine learning of adjusting operating conditions based on the reward calculated by the reward calculation section, the operating conditions, and the physical-amount data; a learning-result storage section storing a learning result of the machine learning by the operating-conditions adjustment learning section; and an operating-conditions adjustment-amount output section determining and outputting an operating condition to be adjusted and an adjustment amount based on the machine lea

Abstract: A machine learning apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is a machine learning apparatus for learning a condition associated with adjustment of a current gain parameter in electrical machine control, and comprises: a state observing unit which acquires actual current as well as an integral gain function and a proportional gain function in a current control loop, and observes state variables which include the integral gain function, the proportional gain function, and at least one of an amount of overshoot, an amount of undershoot, and a rise time of the actual current occurring in response to a step-like torque command; and a learning unit which learns the condition associated with the adjustment of the current gain parameter in accordance with a training data set constructed from the state variables.

Abstract: A method for training a disturbance rejection model that is configured to model an operation of a system so to calculate a predicted value for a system output at a future time. The disturbance rejection model may include a network for mapping system inputs to the system output, the network including a weight vector and a feedback coefficient. The method may include: obtaining a training dataset, and training the disturbance rejection model pursuant to the training dataset. The training may include calculating updated values for each of the weight vector and the feedback coefficient of the network by minimizing an error function that include a first hyperparameter and a second hyperparameter. The first hyperparameter may include a vector for penalizing the weight vector and the second hyperparameter may include a scalar.

Abstract: An electricity grid is provided including an AC electricity grid and a DC electricity grid coupled thereto via a converter, a first load flow in the AC electricity grid is modeled by a first load flow model and a second load flow in the DC electricity grid is modeled by a second load flow model. The converter controls an active power flow between the AC electricity grid and the DC electricity grid in dependence on a grid voltage of the DC electricity grid, wherein this dependence is adjustable in a control characteristic of the converter by a first coupling parameter.

Abstract: An on-demand production system for accessories for use with electronic devices is configured to generate digital templates defining the design of the accessories and provide the digital templates to retail or other locations. The retail or other locations may receive access to the digital templates automatically and/or electronically within a week, a day, or even minutes, of the digital template being created. When a customer requests an accessory, the digital template may be accessed. Using an electronic production machine and a supply of stock material, the accessory can be cut, formed, printed, or otherwise produced based on instructions or designs of the digital template. The electronic production machine may automatically read the digital template to automate the production at a retail location. The electronic production machine may produce the accessory on-demand, and production of the accessory may be completed within two hours, or potentially within ten minutes, of a request.

Abstract: A method of operating a home-automation installation, the home-automation installation including items of equipment fixed in a building and a mobile unit for controlling the items of equipment, the elements communicating over a home-automation network, each element being furnished with an identifier which is specific to it and with an authentication key specific to the home-automation network, termed “common key”, identical for all the elements and authenticating an element's membership of the home-automation network, The method includes a step of locating the mobile control unit and delivering an item of position information, then a step of pinpointing using at least the item of position information to pinpoint a particular item of equipment, the pinpointing step allowing the identification of the particular item of equipment and allowing the locating of the particular item of equipment in a mode of configuration of the home-automation installation.

Abstract: After the manufacturing of an object by layer-wise solidification from a powder, this object is displaced into a container together with the powder surrounding the object, and is closed by a plate, which is positioned below the object during the manufacturing of the object.