Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method for cleaning contamination from sensors in a lithography tool without requiring recalibrating the lithography tool. More particularly, embodiments described herein teach cleaning the sensors using hydrogen radicals for a short period while the performance drifting is still above the drift tolerance. After a cleaning process described herein, the lithography tool can resume production without recalibration.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus for conveying a holding portion that includes a holding surface where the holding portion holds a substrate, the conveying apparatus including a conveying portion configured to convey the holding portion, and a cover member that covers a first surface on an opposite side of the holding surface of the holding portion, and an attaching and detaching portion configured to attach and detach the holding portion to and from the cover member, wherein the cover member comprises a first removing member configured to remove a foreign substance attached to the first surface, wherein the cover member is configured to be fixed to the holding portion while the first surface and the first removing member are in contact with each other, wherein the conveying portion conveys the holding portion and the cover member to a movable moving unit configured to hold the holding portion while having the first surface and the first removing member of the cover member be in contact with each other, wherein the conv

Abstract: An optical assembly includes: an optical element, which is transmissive or reflective to radiation at a used wavelength and has an optically used region; and a thermally conductive component, which is arranged outside the optically used region of the optical element. The thermally conductive component can include a material having a thermal conductivity of more than 500 W m?1 K?1. Additionally or alternatively, the product of the thickness of the thermally conductive component in millimeters and the thermal conductivity of the material of the thermally conductive component is at least 1 W mm m?1 K?1.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer having a single-layer structure. The photosensitive layer contains a charge generating material, an electron transport material, a polycarbonate resin, and a hole transport material. The electron transport material includes a compound having a halogen atom and represented by general formula (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5). The hole transport material includes a compound represented by general formula (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), or (27). A charge of calcium carbonate as measured by charging the calcium carbonate through friction with the photosensitive layer is at least +6.5 ?C/g. A Vickers hardness of the photosensitive layer at 45° C. is at least 17.0 HV.

Abstract: Provided is a two-component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image containing: toner particles having toner mother particles and an external additive on a surface of the toner mother particles; and carrier particles, wherein the external additive contains alumina particles; the alumina particles are subjected to a surface modification with a hydrophobilizing agent; among the hydrophobilizing agent existing on the surface of the alumina particles after the surface modification, a ratio of the hydrophobilizing agent in a state of being liberated from the surface is 20% or less when extraction treatment is performed under a predetermined condition; the alumina particles have a number average primary particle diameter in the range of 5 to 60 nm; and the carrier particles have a resin covering layer, and the resin covering layer is formed with an alicyclic (meth)acrylate monomer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section and a controller. The image forming section selectively forms a first toner image to be printed on transfer paper other than plain paper with use of a toner and forms a second toner image to be printed on the plain paper with use of the toner. The controller controls the image forming section and thereby makes a first area density of the toner in the first toner image and a second area density of the toner in the second toner image differ from each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former to print on a printing paper a plurality of lines that are arranged at intervals in a main scanning direction and are vertical to the main scanning direction using different photosensitive drums, a scanner is to scan the printing paper on which the plurality of lines are printed to obtain a scanned image usable in a color registration correction.

Abstract: A charged positive toner having a positive polarity that attaches to a charge roller is moved from the charge roller to a photosensitive drum, and the positive toner is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt at a primary transfer portion at which a primary-transfer power supply forms an electric potential having a negative polarity. The primary-transfer power supply forms an electric potential having the positive polarity at the primary transfer portion, and the positive toner transferred to the intermediate transfer belt is moved together with the intermediate transfer belt and is collected by the charge roller in contact with a downstream photosensitive drum.

Abstract: A powder container includes a powder storage configured to store powder and having side walls with through-holes; a hollow member including a hollow part; held parts disposed at both ends of the hollow member in an axial direction of the hollow member; a coil configured to be held by the hollow member; holders configured to hold the held parts of the hollow member; and a piercing shaft configured to be inserted into the hollow part of the hollow member from outside of the powder container through one of the through-holes.

Abstract: A belt driving device includes a plurality of rollers, an endless belt, a contact surface, and a non-contact surface. The rollers include a driving roller that is rotationally driven. The endless belt is stretched between the rollers such that a predetermined tension is applied to the endless belt, and the endless belt protrudes from opposite end portions of the rollers in an axis direction of each of the rollers. The contact surface is formed at a first end portion of at least one of the rollers and comes in contact with the endless belt. The first end portion is located on a meandering direction side of the endless belt. The non-contact surface is formed at each of second end portions of the rollers and doesn't come in contact with the endless belt. The second end portions are located on a side opposite to the meandering direction of the endless belt.

Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries and conveys a toner image; a charging member arranged in contact with or close to the image carrier; a charging power supply that charges the image carrier; an exposurer that forms a latent image on the charged image carrier; a developing member arranged close to the image carrier; a developing power supply that develops the latent image and forms a toner image on the image carrier; a transfer member that transfers the toner image to a medium; and a hardware processor that controls the image forming apparatus, wherein the hardware processor obtains a potential of an exposure part and a non-exposure part, on the image carrier after the toner image has been transferred to the medium, determines a charging bias based on a difference between the obtained potentials, and determines a developing bias based on the determined charging bias.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit that transports a sheet of paper carrying an unfixed image through a nip part to fix the unfixed image to the sheet, a first guide unit coming into contact with a side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet, and a second guide unit coming into contact with an opposite side of the sheet that guides transport of the sheet. The first guide unit has a recess serving as a guide part, the recess being recessed in a direction away from a transport path of the sheet. The second guide unit has a bending part serving as a guide part, the bending part having a shape of a circular arc in cross-section, the bending part being disposed such that at least a portion of the bending part lies inside the recess.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device, a controller, and a storage. The fixing device includes a fixing part that fixes a toner image on a sheet, a heating part that heats the fixing part, and a detecting part that detects an actual temperature of the fixing part. The controller controls the actual temperature of the fixing part based on a target temperature of the fixing part and a cumulative deviation of the actual temperature of the fixing part. The storage stores a convergence value of the cumulative deviation. Every time a heating operation to the fixing part by the heating part is executed, the controller updates the convergence value of the cumulative deviation stored in the storage by a convergence value of the cumulative deviation of a latest heating operation.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a detector, a heater, and a controller. The detector detects an image formed on a sheet. The heater applies a predetermined heat amount onto the sheet to carry out erasing processing on the sheet. The controller controls, based on a detection result of the detector, the number of times the erasing processing is to be carried out on the sheet and a heat amount to be applied onto the sheet in the erasing processing.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image to a paper sheet, and the fixing device includes: a pressure roller; and a heating member, wherein the heating member includes: a pressure pad; a heating roller including a heater; and a fixing belt, the fixing device further includes a drive mechanism that controls rotation of the pressure roller and the heating roller, the fixing belt is driven while sliding on a surface of the pressure pad, when the heating roller rotates, and the drive mechanism applies pressure to the paper sheet, fixes the toner image to the paper sheet, switches between a contact state in which the pressure roller and the fixing belt are in contact with each other, and a separated state in which the pressure roller and the fixing belt are separated from each other, and switches to the contact state when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a first fixing section, a second fixing section, the first fixing section and the second fixing section forming a fixing nip therebetween, a nip width adjusting section capable of adjusting a nip width of the fixing nip, a rotation speed detecting section that detects a rotation speed of the second fixing section, and a hardware processor that controls the nip width adjusting section to make the nip width equal to a predetermined reference nip width.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can accurately predict occurrence of damage to a fixing rotary member due to passage of a recording material and prevent consequential deterioration of a formed image. The image forming apparatus includes: a pair of fixing rotary members constituting a nip part for nipping a recording material on which a toner image is formed; a surface homogenizing member for homogenizing the surface of the fixing rotary member; a hardware processor that acquires physical property information of the recording material; and a controller for controlling drive of the surface homogenizing member according to the physical property information of the recording material acquired by the hardware processor that acquires the physical property information.

Abstract: A fixing device is for fixing a developing agent image to a recording sheet by electrostatically spraying a charged fixing solution toward the developing agent image on the sheet. The fixing device includes a container portion, a plurality of nozzles, and a potential difference generating portion. The container portion is configured to store therein the fixing solution. The plurality of nozzles is in communication with the container portion and configured to spray the fixing solution toward the developing agent image. The potential difference generating portion is configured to generate a potential difference between the fixing solution stored in the plurality of nozzles and the recording sheet conveyed at a position separated from the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: When an image forming apparatus such as an MFP runs out of supplies, such as paper or toner, the user will need to load paper in the paper tray or replace the toner cartridge. However, the user occasionally has difficulty in opening the paper tray or the front cover because his/her hands are carrying the additional supplies. For example, the user may have to put the belonging down to open up the paper tray or the front cover. The image forming apparatus reacts to the user's desire in a mechanical manner by opening the paper tray or the front cover.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image former; a detector; and a hardware processor that: calculates a minimum area for each of the plurality of tones based on image data of the image, calculates a density ratio between the densities before and after the transferring is made for each of the plurality of tones from the densities detected by the detector, extracts as a first area a minimum area of a tone corresponding to a density ratio which switches from less than a predetermined threshold to equal to or more than the threshold, and extracts as a second area a minimum area of a tone the density ratio of which is a maximum, and changes a setting of a dot size of the image so that a size of the second area becomes the same as a size of the first area until the next setting change is performed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sensor assembly having a window and a sensor which senses a developer through the window, and a shutter device which opens and closes the window, and thereby sensing in a sensible state is maintained, and a lifetime thereof is extendable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member; a charging member configured to electrically charge the photosensitive member; a developing device configured to form a toner image by supplying toner to the photosensitive member; a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image from the photosensitive member onto a toner image receiving member; a cleaning member provided in contact with the photosensitive member and configured to remove the toner remaining on a surface of the photosensitive member after transfer; and a controller configured to carry out a process for notifying information on a lifetime of the charging member, on the basis of use amount information on a use amount of the charging member and contact pressure information on contact pressure applied by the cleaning member to the photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing portion, a reversing portion, a re-feeding path, a detecting portion, a first feeding path, a second feeding path, an air flow generating portion, and a flow path forming portion. The flow path forming portion forms a flow path along which air flow is passed through between a recording material passing through the second feeding path and a constituent portion constituting the second feeding path on a side toward the detecting portion and guides the recording material passing through the second feeding path, when the recording material passes through the second feeding path.

Abstract: At the time of an end of an image forming job (YES of S1), a controller causes a blade and a developing roller to be separated from a photosensitive drum (S2). At that time, the controller controls separation timing of the belt and the developing roller so that the developing roller is separated from the photosensitive drum before a surface position of the photosensitive drum contacted to the developing roller at a contact position at the time of a start of separation of the blade from the photosensitive drum reaches a developing position with the separation of the blade. According to this, even when a liquid accumulation reaches the developing position depending on the separation of the blade, the developing roller has already been separated from the photosensitive drum before the liquid accumulation reaches the developing position and therefore, the liquid accumulation is not collected by the developing roller.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus having a lubricant application apparatus applying lubricant to an image carrier in an image former, in which the lubricant application apparatus includes: a lubricant stick; an application member disposed on an upstream side in an advancing direction of the image carrier surface with respect to a cleaning apparatus pressing lubricant supplied to the image carrier to form a film, supplying lubricant scraped off from the lubricant stick to the image carrier, and removing residual toner adhering to the image carrier; and a recovery member in contact with the application member, and recovering toner adhering to the application member, and the image formation apparatus includes a hardware processor controlling a lubricant amount on the image carrier by changing each of removability of residual toner on the image carrier by the application member, and recoverability of residual toner on the application member by the recovery member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging member, a light source, and a light quantity lowering member. The light quantity lowering member is provided so that a lowering amount of a quantity of a part of light reflected by a surface of a member at each of end portions of a charging region where the surface of the image bearing member is charged by the charging member is larger than that at a portion inside an associated end portion with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image bearing member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge including at least an image bearing member. The apparatus further includes a tray drawable from the main assembly, wherein the cartridge is mountable to and dismountable from the tray in one direction and an opposite direction, respectively; and a light emission unit provided in the tray and including a plurality of light emission elements arranged in an axial direction of the image bearing member to form a latent image on the image bearing member. The cartridge is capable of being inserted into the tray by moving it in the one direction, in response to which the light emission unit is moved in a direction crossing with the one direction to outside of a movement range of insertion of the cartridge.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an image forming apparatus, the main body including: a fixing portion that includes a heating rotation member; and a mounting portion on which the cartridge is mounted, the fixing portion including a fixing shutter movable between a first position where a part of the heating rotation member is covered and a second position where the part of the heating rotation member is exposed, the fixing shutter including a force receiving portion that receives a force for causing the fixing shutter to move from the first position to the second position, the cartridge including a photosensitive member, a frame that supports the photosensitive member, and a pressing portion that presses the force receiving portion of the fixing shutter while the cartridge is being mounted on the mounting portion.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an attachment mechanism to which an attachment unit is detachably attachable and a processor. The processor is configured to perform a determination operation to determine whether or not an attachment unit attached to the attachment mechanism is of a specific type, and transmit a determination result of the determination operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: a printing paper transport path in which printing paper is transported; a secondary transfer unit and a fixing section both disposed on the printing paper transport path; an open/close cover that, when opened, exposes the printing paper transport path in a main body of the apparatus; a pressure roller, disposed in the fixing section, that presses the printing paper on a side thereof facing the open/close cover against the printing paper transport path; and cooling fans that cool down the pressure roller, wherein the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans are attached to the open/close cover and disposed at such positions that the secondary transfer unit and the cooling fans move following overlapping paths when the open/close cover is opened/closed.

Abstract: A light modulator, for a display for the presentation of two- and/or three-dimensional image contents or image sequences, includes two opposing substrates and electrodes. At least one liquid crystal layer is provided between the two substrates. An alignment means is provided on the substrate which faces the liquid crystal layer to set a predeterminable initial alignment of the liquid crystals. The orientation of the liquid crystals can be controlled in a given range through an electric field generated by the electrodes. The alignment means is controllable and can be controlled to modify the initial alignment of the liquid crystals. The alignment can be controlled such the orientation of the liquid crystals can be oriented outside the given range or so that the initial alignment of the liquid crystals can be set specifically for certain positions.

Abstract: A display hand intended to equip a timepiece, including a body and a pipe, providing an arbor hole arranged for fitting the display hand onto a drive arbor. The body is made of a composite material, the pipe includes, over all or part of the outer periphery, a surface for connection to the hand body to ensure the adhesion of the composite material to the pipe.

Abstract: A protective shroud for a dive watch having a transparent lenticular element configured to enlarge an image appearing on a dial of the dive watch. The shroud can include a rib that distances the lenticular element from the dial, and a flange that extends around the lenticular element and includes two slots for fixing a strap of the dive watch. The shroud can be made of a single piece of elastic material.

Abstract: An electronic tourbillion clock including a clock case having a plurality of high-resolution digital displays that extend around an outer circumference of the clock case as an indicator of hours. A seven segment display is located within the clock case as an indicator of minutes elapsed within an hour. A microcontroller determines the current time and other chronological indications depending on the output signals generated by a position of a tourbillon mechanism disposed in the clock case. A sub-circuit is disposed within the clock case and interconnected with the microcontroller for creating a plurality of distinctive sound patterns directed through one or more speakers in response to the output signals generated by the position of the tourbillon mechanism.

Abstract: The invention concerns a box including a device for retaining in position a timepiece component. The device includes: —a base (2); —a support (3, 4) comprising a first part (3) and a second part (4), the first part being mounted to be mobile relative to the second part; —a first contact element (3a, 3b) intended to come to bear against the timepiece component, the first contact element (3a, 3b) being mounted on the first part, and a second contact element (4a) intended to come to bear against the timepiece component (5), the second contact element (4a) being mounted on the second part (4); and—a control member (1) mounted to pivot on the base (2) about a first axis (1a) on the one hand and pivoting the first part about a second axis (1b) on the other hand.

Abstract: A method of making an atomic vapor source includes positioning a glass base of a vapor cell in a vacuum chamber, providing an alkaline-earth metal in the glass base, and positioning a linear motion feedthrough mechanism adjacent the vacuum chamber in line with the glass base. The method includes sealing and evacuating the vacuum chamber, and positioning, using a linear motion actuator of the linear motion feedthrough mechanism, a glass lid to contact the glass base of the vapor cell to form an optical contact bond therebetween.

Abstract: A vapor cell heating assembly, method, and high temperature optical system including a vapor cell having exterior surfaces; a slide disposed on at least one exterior surface of the vapor cell; a heating element disposed on the at least one exterior surface, the heating element including a frame and a first opening in the frame to pass light through the frame to the at least one exterior surface; and a shell disposed on the vapor cell to hold the slide and heating element to the vapor cell, wherein the shell includes a plurality of structural elements, each structural element disposed on a corresponding exterior surface of the vapor cell and aligned to adjacent structural elements at edges, and wherein each structural element includes a second opening to pass light through the structural element to a respective exterior surface.

Abstract: A smartphone includes a receiver, a log acquirer, a determiner, an information notifier, and a display. The receiver is in wireless communication with a time display device. The log acquirer acquires log data from the time display device by the receiver. The determiner determines the usage status of the time display device on the basis of the log data acquired by the log acquirer. The information notifier provides, via the display, notification of information corresponding to the usage status determined by the determiner.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for automated control of the gas turbine fuel composition through automated modification of the ratio of fuel gas from multiple sources. The method includes providing first and second fuel sources. The method further includes sensing the operational parameters of a turbine and determining whether the operational parameters are within preset operational limits. The method also adjusting the ration of the first fuel source to the second fuel source, based on whether the operational parameters are within the preset operational limits.

Abstract: This invention discloses a controller and method for a cyber synchronous machine (CSM, in short, cybersync machine), namely, a power electronic converter that is seamlessly equipped with computational algorithms (i.e., the controller) to represent the intrinsic and fundamental principles of physical synchronous machines. The CSM can be operated in the grid-connected mode or the islanded mode to take part in the regulation of the frequency and the voltage. The controller also includes auxiliary blocks to achieve self-synchronization without measuring or estimating the grid frequency and the regulation of real power and reactive power to the given reference values without static errors. The control signal for the power electronic converter can be the output voltage generated by the engendering block or the sum of the output voltage and the virtual current.

Abstract: An operating configuration for a power system during a particular time period may be derived from a net load forecast for the power system during the particular time period. The operating configuration may be based on inter-temporal and/or continuous-time characteristics of the net load forecast. A power system manager may schedule power generation and/or energy storage units to satisfy the net load forecast at minimal cost. The power generation and/or energy storage units may be scheduled in accordance with inter-temporal and/or continuous-time characteristics of the net load. The schedule may comply with generation trajectory and/or ramping constraints of the power generating units, power trajectory and/or ramping constraints of the energy storage units, and so on.

Abstract: In a control device which outputs control instructions at a constant cycle to each of a plurality of networks for executing a predetermined process according to the control instructions, a time (a required time) from when the control instruction is output to each of the plurality of networks until the predetermined process is executed is acquired for each of the plurality of networks. Among the plurality of required times, a difference (a shift time) between a short required time (required time of mounting head) and a long required time (required time of moving device) is calculated. When the shift time has elapsed after outputting the control instruction to the network of the moving device, the control instruction is output to the network of the mounting head.

Abstract: A method for controlling a process, comprising treatment of a process medium, and which includes a system input, in particular, an inlet, and a system output, in particular, an outlet for the process includes such a dead time profile that a change in at least one parameter of the first type of the process medium at the system input causes a change in at least one parameter of the second type of the process medium at the system output only after an elapse of a dead time, comprises: determining, in particular, digital values for the parameter of the first type and using these values as input values of a control system; determining the set values for an output variable influencing the parameter of the second type of the process medium at the system output, using the determined values of the parameter of a first type and a first proportionality factor recorded in the control system; applying the determined set values for adjusting the output variable using the control system; determining, in particular, digital v

Abstract: An air quality monitoring and management system adapted to be mounted between an existing thermostat and a wall in which the thermostat was previously mounted, or directly at the HVAC system. The air quality monitoring and management system contains various wires for connecting to both a thermostat and HVAC system, thereby effectively intercepting the signal between the thermostat and HVAC system. The air quality monitoring and management system includes air quality measuring sensors, a housing for mounting between the wall and thermostat, and a controller that supplies electrical signals to the HVAC system through use of the aforementioned wires to supplement the control of the HVAC fan in conjunction with the thermostat to help increase air flow in the affected area. The air quality monitoring and management system may include an air quality management controller mounted to an HVAC air handling unit, and wirelessly connected to sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatic irrigation for a micro-climate areas and subterranean soil modeling are provided herein. Some methods include receiving collection of micro-climate data having weather data from a weather station that is proximate a target area, canopy imaging for the target area, depth-specific soil data for the target area, plant health data that includes stomatal conductance and evapotranspiration for plants in the target area, and selectively adjusting operation of an irrigation system so as to increase or decrease water applied to the target area based on analysis of the micro-climate data.

Abstract: An operation support apparatus includes an operation control device controlling a target operation performed for a target facility on the basis of operation control information, which indicates each performed operation, including information of the target facility representing a facility that is a target for performing an operation and information of the target operation indicating contents of the operation performed for the target facility.

Abstract: A service panel for controlling at least one utility actuator to control the availability of a utility comprises a covered enclosure having an exterior region and an interior region, at least one readily accessible utility control providing ON and OFF request signals and a limited access control in the exterior region providing a temporary activate signal. The service panel has a controller and data storage programmed with code and data and control circuitry providing an “ON” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to the “ON” state, and the control circuitry providing an “OFF” control signal to the at least one utility actuator to switch the at least one utility actuator to an OFF state, the control circuitry further providing a re-key signal to the at least one actuator in response to activation of a switch.

Abstract: An electric or gas range may be monitored or controlled with an integrated appliance assistant. The range may include multiple sensors, such as sensors measuring temperature proximate to a burner, power usage by the burner (e.g., electricity or gas consumption), temperature proximate to an oven, or power usage by the oven. The measurements received from the sensors may be processed by a control board, and the control board may be configured to turn off a burner and/or the oven based on the measurements. Such an electric or gas range may provide increased safety by turning off a burner or the oven in the event of a fire or a person accidentally leaving it on.

Abstract: A decentralized peripheral having process input and process output modules which, in a process control mode of operation, interact with field devices connected to these modules, and having an interface module in which a process image is stored, wherein in the process control mode of operation the process input modules write process input values for processing via an automation device connected to the decentralized peripheral into the process image, and the automation device writes process output values for processing via the process output modules into the process image such that as real a behavior as possible of this decentralized peripheral can be simulated.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a shared variable frequency drive for operating more than one mechanical systems of a grain bin. The control system includes at least one processor circuit that is configured to operate the shared VFD in both a first mode, wherein operating in the first mode results in operating a fan assembly of the grain bin, and a second mode, wherein operating in the second mode results in operating an unload sweep assembly within the grain bin.