Abstract: A lithographic apparatus (LA) applies a pattern to a substrate (W). The lithographic apparatus includes a height sensor (LS), a substrate positioning subsystem, and a controller configured for causing the height sensor to measure the height (h) of the substrate surface at locations across the substrate. The measured heights are used to control the focusing of one or more patterns applied to the substrate. The height h is measured relative to a reference height (zref). The height sensor is operable to vary the reference height (zref), which allows a wider effective range of operation. Specifications for control of the substrate height during measurement can be relaxed. The reference height can be varied by moving one or more optical elements (566, 572, 576, 504 and/or 512) within the height sensor, or moving the height sensor. An embodiment without moving parts includes a multi-element photodetector (1212).

Abstract: A liquid crystal exposure apparatus is equipped with: a substrate holder that is disposed below a projection optical system and holds a substrate; a first drive section that moves the substrate holder along an XY plane; heads that measures the position information of the substrate holder; head stages that support the heads and are movable within the XY plane; and a second drive section that moves the head stages in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the second drive section moves the head stages in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction when the substrate holder is moved in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction by the first drive section.

Abstract: A liquid supply system for an immersion lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a space is defined between the projection system, a barrier member and a substrate. The barrier member is not sealed such that, during use, immersion liquid is allowed to flow out the space and between the barrier member and the substrate.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a lithography apparatus is provided. The method includes flowing a major cleaning agent in volume over a reflective surface of a collector of the lithography apparatus; and flowing a minor cleaning agent in volume intermittently over the reflective surface of the collector, so as to clean the reflective surface of the collector.

Abstract: A mask assembly suitable for use in a lithographic process, the mask assembly comprising a patterning device; and a pellicle frame configured to support a pellicle and mounted on the patterning device with a mount; wherein the mount is configured to suspend the pellicle frame relative to the patterning device such that there is a gap between the pellicle frame and the patterning device; and wherein the mount provides a releasably engageable attachment between the patterning device and the pellicle frame.

Abstract: Offline metrology measurements are performed on substrates that have been subjected to lithographic processing. Model parameters are calculated by fitting the measurements to an extended high-order substrate model defined using a combination of basis functions that include an edge basis function related to a substrate edge. A radial edge basis function may be expressed in terms of distance from a substrate edge. The edge basis function may, for example, be an exponential decay function or a rational function. Lithographic processing of a subsequent substrate is controlled using the calculated high-order substrate model parameters, in combination with low-order substrate model parameters obtained by fitting inline measurements to a low order model.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a photosensitive layer of a single layer. The photosensitive layer contains a charge generating material, a hole transport material, an electron transport material, and a binder resin. An optical response time is 0.05 milliseconds or longer and 0.85 milliseconds or shorter. The optical response time is a time from irradiation of a surface of the photosensitive layer charged to +800 V with pulse light having a wavelength of 780 nm to decay of a surface potential of the photosensitive layer from +800 V to +400 V. The pulse light has an intensity that allows the surface potential of the photosensitive layer to decay to +200 V from +800 V after 400 milliseconds elapse from the irradiation of the surface of the photosensitive layer charged to +800 V with the pulse light. The photosensitive layer has a Martens hardness at 50° C. of at least 160 N/mm2.

Abstract: A toner comprises a toner particle and an external additive, the toner satisfies a certain relationship with regard to ?l (C/m2) and ?s (C/m2). The toner is divided into two groups i.e. a first group and a second group with inertial classifier, the first group including a larger size of the toner particles, and the second group including a smaller size of the toner particles, and the number of the toner particles in the first group being substantially equal to the number of the toner particles in the second group. Then, al (C/m2) represents an absolute value of average surface charge density of the toner included in the first group, and ?s (C/m2) represents an absolute value of average surface charge density of the toner included in the second group.

Abstract: A toner containing a toner particle, in which the toner particle contains a binder resin and a pigment, and As and Al satisfy a specific relation, in a case when the toner is divided into two groups i.e. a first group and a second group with an inertial classifier, the first group including a larger size of the toner particles, and the second group including a smaller size of the toner particles, and the number of the toner particles in the first group being substantially equal to the number of the toner particles in the second group. Each of As and Al is a change rate of a surface potential of a pellet type molded product obtained by molding each of the toner in the first group and the toner in the second group under specific conditions is observed using a surface potentiometer under a specific conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a ferrite carrier core material for an electrophotographic developer, the material having a mesh passing amount of 3 wt % or less as indicated by the ratio of the weight of particles passing through a 16 ?m-mesh to the weight of whole particles constituting a powder, and having a particle strength index of 2 wt % or less as indicated by a difference between the mesh passing amounts before and after crushing; a ferrite carrier which is for an electrophotographic developer and in which the surface of the ferrite carrier core material is coated with a resin; and an electrophotographic developer which includes the ferrite carrier and a toner.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive drums respectively corresponding to a plurality of colors to print, on a recording medium, color chart of a plurality of vertical lines in a sub-scanning direction to a main scanning direction of the recording medium and to be arranged at intervals along the main scanning direction. A vertical line of the plurality of vertical lines includes at least two colored sub-lines to be formed by corresponding at least two photosensitive drums. A processor is to perform a correction in non-linear color registrations in the main scanning direction using an image of the color chart.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a first charging roller, a first cleaning member, a second charging roller, and a second cleaning member. The relationship is satisfied (X×L0+L1+L2)?(Y×L3+L4)?0 where L0 represents a length of a whole circumference of the first charging roller, L1 represents a length between the first contact area and the first contact position of the first charging roller and the photosensitive member, L3 represents a length of a whole circumference of the second charging roller, L4 represents a length between the second contact area and the second contact position, L2 represents a length between the first contact position and the second contact position, X represents an integer in a range of 0?X?40, and Y represents an integer in a range of 0?Y?40.

Abstract: The optical scanning apparatus includes a deflecting unit that scans first and second (FaS) scanned surfaces in main scanning direction by deflecting FaS light fluxes incident on a first deflecting surface at different angles with respect to main scanning section in sub-scanning section, and a first optical element including FaS optical portions which guide FaS light fluxes deflected by deflecting unit to FaS scanned surfaces, respectively. An incident surface of first optical element projects most toward deflecting unit at a position of surface vertex on the incident surface in sub-scanning section including the surface vertex. At least one of FaS exit surfaces of FaS optical portions is a sagittal tilt surface. A distance between surface vertices on FaS exit surfaces in sub-scanning section including an incident position of axial ray is larger than the corresponding distance in sub-scanning section including an incident position of outermost off-axis ray.

Abstract: A cleaning device has a housing where an opening and a toner storage portion are formed, a cleaning member arranged in the opening, a collection roller collecting toner attached to the cleaning member, a blade scraping off toner attached to the collection roller, a sheet member dividing between the toner storage portion and the opening, and a sealing member arranged to be in contact with the housing and both end parts of the outer circumferential surface of the collection roller in the axial direction. A first region having a predetermined surface roughness is formed in a middle part of the circumferential surface of the collection roller in the axial direction, and a second region having a lower surface roughness than the first region is formed next to both end parts of the first region in the axial direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an optical sensor configured to detect an image formed on an intermediate transfer belt. The optical sensor includes a first LED, a second LED, a first PD, and a second PD. The first LED and the second LED irradiate an optical-axis center point of an intermediate transfer belt. The first PD is arranged at a position at which an optical axis of specularly reflected light of light emitted from the second LED and an optical axis along which specularly reflected light of light emitted from the first LED is received form an angle ?. The second PD is arranged at a position at which the optical axis of the specularly reflected light of the light emitted from the second LED and an optical axis along which diffused reflected light of the light emitted from the second LED is received.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a supporting member arranged inside the fixing belt, a nip forming member, a cap supporting an end of the fixing belt and a pivot supporting member. The nip forming member attached to the supporting member sandwiches the fixing belt with the pressuring member. The pivot supporting member attached at an end of the supporting member pivotally supports the cap. The pivot supporting member includes a positioning member fitted on the supporting member from an end side and locked to the supporting member at a center side, and a fastening member fitted on the supporting member and the positioning member and fastened to the supporting member. The positioning member and the fastening member fitted to each other constitute the outer face of the pivot supporting member along an inner face of the cap.

Abstract: A recording material characteristic detecting device that irradiates a first light and a second light to a recording material carried along a predetermined carrying path and detects a transmitted light generated when the first light transmits the recording material and a reflection light generated when the second light is reflected by the recording material, and detects a characteristic of the recording material, comprises: a reflection light source that irradiates the second light toward the carrying path; a reference plate for reflection light arranged oppositely to the reflection light source across the carrying path to reflect the second light; and a light detector arranged oppositely to the reference plate for reflection light across the carrying path to detect at least a reflection light generated in response to reflection of the second light. The reference plate has a higher reflectivity to the second light than a reflectivity to the first light.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an attachment section, an intermediate hopper, second storage, an image forming section, a first calculation section, and a second calculation section. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet using the toner contained in the intermediate hopper. The first calculation section, in a case where an image is to be formed on a first predetermined number of the sheets, calculates a consumed toner amount that is the amount of toner consumed during formation of the image on a second predetermined number of the sheets, the second predetermined number being smaller than the first predetermined number. The second calculation section calculates the maximum number of the sheets on which the image can be formed, on the basis of the consumed toner amount, the first toner amount, and the second toner amount.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes a first LED, a second LED, a first PD, and a second PD. The first LED and the second LED are configured to irradiate an optical-axis center point of an intermediate transfer belt. The first PD is arranged at a position at which specularly reflected light of light emitted from the first LED and diffused reflected light of light emitted from the second LED are received. The second PD is arranged at a position at which diffused reflected light of the light emitted from the first LED is received.

Abstract: A method for demanding a more flexible printing processing by an image forming apparatus which comprises a first storage section and a second storage section involves deciding whether to print the image information contained in the file; determining whether or not an image indicated by the emphasis information stored in the second storage section is contained in the image information contained in the file if the decision is carried out; creating a print command to print the image indicated by the emphasis information with a decolorable recording material in a case in which it is determined that the image indicated by the emphasis information is contained in the image information contained in the file; and sending the created print command through the communication section.

Abstract: A security document having a security element including a multilayer body with a volume hologram layer and a partial opaque layer, arranged on a surface of the volume hologram layer, which is present in a first area and is not present in a second area.

Abstract: A system for lens-free imaging includes a processor in communication with a lens-free image sensor. The processor is programmed to operate the image sensor to obtain a hologram ??. The processor is further programmed to generate, from the hologram, a reconstructed image X and phase W at a focal depth z using an assumption of sparsity.

Abstract: A watch component includes a shaft member including a shaft and a flange portion formed to protrude in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of the shaft, a body portion made of silicon and provided with an insertion hole through which the shaft is inserted, and a fixing member mounted on the shaft at a side of the body portion opposite from the flange portion. The body portion includes an accommodating recessed portion configured to accommodate the flange portion, and is fixed to the shaft member by being interposed between the flange portion and the fixing member.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece has an antenna having a first conductor element connected to a feed, a second conductor element superimposed with the first conductor element in plan view, and a shorting element shorting the first and second conductor elements; a solar panel; a circuit board electrically connected to the feed; a connector electrically connecting the solar panel and the circuit board; and a case having a side wall and housing the antenna, solar panel, circuit board, feed, and connector. A through-hole through which a pivot passes is disposed to the antenna at a position different from the shorting element. The connector is disposed in plan view to a third area excluding from a first area surrounded by the side wall a second area defined by a line indicating a position one-third the distance from the center of the first or second conductor element to an outside circumference.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for diagnosing mechanical default of a mechanical watch, wherein at least one vibration signal is acquired from the mechanical watch the vibration signal is analyzed by an artificial intelligence trained to detect mechanical default in mechanical watches to determine a diagnosis whether the mechanical watch is working properly or not.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic timepiece enabling reducing the size of an electronic timepiece. The electronic timepiece has an antenna having a first conductor element connected to a feed, a second conductor element superimposed with the first conductor element in plan view, and a dielectric disposed between the first conductor element and second conductor element, and the antenna holds a specific timepiece part. The specific timepiece part is preferably a dial, solar panel, or circuit board. The antenna also preferably has a shorting element that shorts the first conductor element and second conductor element.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus including a plurality of agents that each set some devices among a plurality of devices provided in a facility to be target devices, wherein each of the plurality of agents includes a state acquiring section that acquires state data indicating a state of the facility; a control condition acquiring section that acquires control condition data indicating a control condition of each target device; and a learning processing section that uses learning data including the state data and the control condition data to perform learning processing of a model that outputs recommended control condition data indicating a control condition recommended for each target device in response to input of the state data.

Abstract: A blockchain-based optimization method for complex scenarios in an energy system, in which an optimization problem is solved by nodes in the whole network after initialization, a node that solves the problem most quickly obtains a block accounting right and performs a broadcast to the whole network, other nodes verify the correctness of the received block, and the verified block is the global optimal solution of an energy system optimization model. The energy blockchain model provided by the invention can meet the performance demands of complex scenarios in the energy system optimization for safety, openness, throughput capacity and has the landing and application capability.

Abstract: A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

Abstract: An automation operating and management system consolidates and analyzes inputs from multiple machines within an automated enterprise to predict failures and provide instructions for counteractions to prevent failures during machine operation, and to identify opportunities for efficiency improvement, including actions for reduction in peak power consumption demand within a facility including multiple machines. A machine can include a machine controller and at least one base layer controller, where the base layer controller acts as a low level controller to directly control the motion of elements in communication with the base layer control, according to parameters set by the machine controller. The base layer controller collects timing data for the elements under its control, compares the timing data with the parameters and sets an alarm when the timing data is outside of tolerance limits defined by the parameters.

Abstract: An I/O module for use in an automation system, has at least one terminal connection point for connecting a signal line and at least one information carrier which contains configuration and/or parameterization information, wherein the information carrier is designed for output by means of a mobile and portable reading device.

Abstract: Resources of a system for controlling optically switchable windows may be used for a personal computing unit. The window system resources may include (i) a display associated with an optically switchable window, (ii) one or more processors of one or more controllers on a window network connected to a plurality of optically switchable windows in a building, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to vary tint states of the plurality of optically switchable windows in the building, (iii) memory of one or more controllers on the window network connected to the plurality of optically switchable windows in the building, and/or (iv) at least a part of the window network.

Abstract: Some appliances, normally supplied by a mains supply, comprise an emergency supply by batteries able to take over from the mains supply. The batteries used by the emergency supply are generally protected by a fuse. These appliances may consume energy greater than what could be supplied by the batteries of the emergency supply. When there is a break in the mains electrical supply, it's preferable to limit the current consumed by the appliance to not damage the fuse protecting said batteries. However, the fuses are hardware modules having a reaction time of a few hundreds of milliseconds. If one does not want to damage the fuse, one could reduce the current consumption of the appliance within a time less than the reaction time of the fuse. A system and method herein instantaneously reduces the electrical consumption of an appliance in the event of a break in the mains supply.

Abstract: To monitor individual safety components or to supply individual operation instructions to corresponding safety components. A connector includes a component-side terminal group used for connection to a corresponding safety component, a downstream-side terminal group used for connection to the downstream side and an upstream-side terminal group used for connection to the upstream side. The downstream-side terminal group includes a downstream-side main information terminal connected to the component-side main information terminal and a downstream-side other terminal different from the downstream-side main information terminal. The upstream-side terminal group includes an upstream-side information terminal capable of being connected to a downstream-side main information terminal of a connector member on the upstream side.

Abstract: A low-voltage motor is provided that includes a rotor and a stator having two or more phase windings and a number of single-turn coils. Each phase winding comprises a plurality of the single-turn coils connected together. Each of the single-turn coils is a single conductive loop that includes only one conductor on each side of the single-turn coil.

Abstract: Systems and methods for prototyping a virtual model are described. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a host processor and a memory coupled to the host processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to: produce a virtual object for display by a Head-Mounted Device (HMD) coupled to the IHS during execution of a virtual, augmented, or mixed reality (xR) application; execute a command with respect to the virtual object to produce a manipulated virtual object displayed by the HMD; and transmit an electronic file corresponding to the manipulated virtual object to a three-dimensional (3D) printer coupled to the IHS, where the electronic file enables the 3D printer to build a physical instance of the manipulated virtual object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monitoring device for managing at least one applicator fixture mounted on an applicator which has a magnetic body and connects a terminal to wiring via up and down movement, the monitoring device comprising: a magnetic sensor which is mounted on the applicator and senses the movement of the magnetic body; at least one slave module which receives identification information of the applicator fixture and mobility information of the magnetic body sensed by the magnetic sensor; a master module which receives the identification information of the applicator fixture and the mobility information of the magnetic body in real time from the at least one slave module; and an interface module that generates a monitoring interface indicating the degree of use of at least one applicator fixture by using the identification information of the applicator fixture and the mobility information of the magnetic body.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns machine tools and more specifically compensation of variations which may occur within a multi-axis machine tool during a cutting process.

Abstract: Systems and methods for marking of objects, such as keys/key-blanks, in a production line are disclosed. The objects are marked by applying a marking composition(s) to pre-selected areas on the surface thereof. The system includes a marking unit for dispensing a volume of marking composition in one or more localized pre-selected areas on the surface of an object to be marked; a holder/gripper for positioning the object to be marked in one or more positions relative to the marking unit so as to allow the marking unit to dispense the marking composition on the one or more pre-selected localized areas; a reading/verification unit for detecting the marking composition applied to the object thereby verifying that the objects are properly marked; an orientation sensing unit for identifying the orientation of the object to be marked relatively to the holder. The system also includes a controller configured for controlling the operation of the holder, orientation sensing unit, and the marking unit.

Abstract: Provided are an electronic manual display method and an electronic manual control device that make an entire work process easy to grasp, thus allowing for important points of the entire work process to be easily grasped and for important information to be easily grasped. In an electronic manual display method and an electronic manual control device, a disassembled perspective view: indicates a disassembled state where a plurality of individual components constituting an entire component unit are aligned in the same visual field direction together with common auxiliary lines indicating the connection in mutual attachment relationships of the individual components; and indicates link displays in accordance with the arrangement of the individual components. When any one of the link displays is selected, the control device causes a monitor to display a work guide display of an individual component corresponding to the selected link display.

Abstract: A data interface device for data transmission between a numerically controlled machine tool and external data processing device, including: a control interface unit for data transmission with a control device of the machine tool and communications unit for data transmission with the external data processing device. Stored configuration data specifies a communication protocol used by the control device from a first group of communication protocols and a communication protocol used by the external data processing device from a second group. The control interface unit uses any protocol from the first group of communication protocols for data transmission and selects the communication protocol used by the control device for data transmission with the control device. The communications unit uses any protocol from a second group of communication protocols for data transmission and selects the communication protocol used by the external data processing device for data transmission with the data processing device.

Abstract: A system for performing autonomous agriculture within an agriculture production environment includes one or more agriculture pods, a stationary robot system, and one or more mobile robots. The agriculture pods include one or more plants and one or more sensor modules for monitoring the plants. The stationary robot system collects sensor data from the sensor modules, performs farming operations on the plants according to an operation schedule based on the collected sensor data, and generates a set of instruction for transporting the agriculture pods within the agriculture production environment. The stationary robot system communicates the set of instructions to the agriculture pods. The mobile robots transport the agriculture pods between the stationary robot system and one or more other locations within the agriculture production environment according to the set of instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing automated supervision and inspection of an assembly process. The method is implemented using a computer system. Sensor data is generated at an assembly site using a sensor system positioned relative to the assembly site. A current stage of an assembly process for building an assembly at the assembly site is identified using the sensor data. A context for the current stage is identified. A quality report for the assembly is generated based on the sensor data and the context for the current stage.

Abstract: A plant control system includes a plant system and a control system controlling the plant system. Runtime conditions of an operating point of the plant control system are received. The runtime conditions include a runtime state of the plant system, a runtime output of the plant system, and a runtime control action applied to the plant system. Reference conditions of a reference point corresponding to the operating point are determined. Stability radius measures of a state difference, an output difference, and a control action difference are computed.

Abstract: A maintenance control program for use in maintaining mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment is provided. The maintenance control program includes a completed survey of the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment. The completed survey is configured to document the physical characteristics of the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment and an assessment of a plurality of metrics concerning the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment. An algorithm is configured to apply values to the assessment of the plurality of metrics. A schedule of code required maintenance tasks is developed for the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment, wherein an interval of the required maintenance tasks is determined by the algorithm based on the values applied to the assessment of the plurality of metrics.

Abstract: A program for operating a robot, comprising providing, a user interface for controlling a robot, wherein the user interface is from the perspective of a recording device, applying, an overlay over the robot, wherein the overlay is visible through the user interface, enabling, a user to control the position and orientation of a robot, connecting a user device with a robot, converting a request from a user to alter the position and orientation of the robot, where the request is processed based on the requested position and orientation of the robot based on a target location determined by the recording device, detecting, the updated robot position and orientation through the recording device, and altering, the robot position and orientation based on a request from the user and the preserved overlay of the robot based on the new position and orientation based on the recording device perspective of the robot.

Abstract: A remote operation system for a vehicle includes a plurality of remote operation devices, each of which includes a communication unit configured to communicate with the vehicle and receive information including a remote operation request, a presentation unit configured to present a situation of the vehicle received from the vehicle by the communication unit to a remote operator, a reception unit configured to receive an operation of the remote operator, and a control unit configured to generate control information on the basis of the operation received by the reception unit and transmit the control information to the vehicle using the communication unit. A remote operation device having a good communication environment with respect to the vehicle transmitting the remote operation request among the plurality of remote operation devices executes the remote operation.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes: an imaging device that captures an image in which a work target is shown; an image transmission unit that transmits the image captured by the imaging device to a control device; an operation signal reception unit that receives an operation signal from the control device; and an operation control unit that limits the operation signal according to a transmission status of the image.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle including a vehicle propulsion system, a braking system, a steering system, and a computing system that is in communication with the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, and the steering system. The computing system includes a processor and memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts including setting as a destination for a trip of the autonomous vehicle. The destination for the trip of the autonomous vehicle being set as a location of a second autonomous vehicle at a specific time. The processor is further configured to select a route to the destination for the trip of the autonomous vehicle. The processor is yet further configured to control at least one of the vehicle propulsion system, the braking system, or the steering system to move the autonomous vehicle along the route as selected for the trip.

Abstract: System for providing a visual aerial presentation comprising a ground-based control station and at least two UAVs, wherein each UAV comprises a body, an integral display and a control unit configured to move the UAV according to position information. The control unit is configured to move the UAV to an image position to present a portion of pixels. The pixel information and the position information comprise dynamic information and are preset and stored in a storage unit and/or transmitted by the control station in real-time. The image position of at least one UAV changes at least one time between two points in time. The control station and/or the control units are configured to change the displayed portion of pixels based on the pixel information essentially in real-time based on the change of the image position.