Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developer-carrying member, a supply member, a developing electrode, a supply electrode, and an insulating member. The casing is configured to accommodate therein developer. The developer-carrying member is configured to rotate about a rotational axis and carry the developer thereon. The supply member is configured to supply the developer to the developer-carrying member. The developing electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the developer-carrying member. The supply electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the supply member. The insulating member insulates the developing electrode and the supply electrode with each other. The developing electrode, the insulating member, and the supply electrode are overlapped in this order in an axial direction of the rotational axis.

Abstract: An electrophotographic blade to be brought into contact with a contact member, comprises a plate spring, and a resin layer that covers at least a part of a surface of the plate spring to form a contact region that comes into contact with a contact member. In the state where one of ends of the plate spring is fixed, a length (L) from the fixed end to the another end is 5 mm to 20 mm, and a force needed to displace the another end by 1 mm is 5 N/m to 100 N/m. The resin layer satisfies the requirements: (1) the thickness of the resin layer is 0.05 mm to 2.00 mm, (2) the tan ? value of the resin layer in the range of 5° C. to 40° C. is 0.05 to 0.70, and (3) the elastic modulus of the resin layer is 1.0 to 60.0 MPa.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image, a developer accommodation part that supplies a developer, a developer supply duct that is disposed between the image forming unit and the developer accommodation part, a shutter member that reciprocates between an open position and a closed position wherein the developer is allowed to pass through the shutter member when the shutter member is at the open position, and the developer is blocked with the shutter member when the shutter member is at the closed position, a first operation part that comprises an engaging part, which engages with the image forming unit, and moves the shutter member either to the open position or to the closed position, wherein the first operation part causes the engaging part to disengage from the image forming unit when the shutter member exists at the closed position.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, an exposure device configured to expose the image bearing member to form an electrostatic latent image thereon, and a developing device including a rotatable developing member configured to carry and feed a developer containing toner and a carrier to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member, and a magnet provided non-rotatably and stationarily inside the rotatable developing member including a developing magnetic pole, wherein magnetic chains formed by the carrier, on the rotatable developing member, magnetized by the magnet contact the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member in a developing region of the rotatable developing member, wherein a maximum peak position where a magnetic flux density of the developing magnetic pole is maximum with respect to a normal direction of the rotatable developing member exists within a range of the developing region with respect to a rotational direction of th

Abstract: An intermediate transfer belt has a first region and a second region in an outer circumferential surface thereof that is in contact with a blade. The first region has a first dynamic friction coefficient in a belt conveyance direction, and the second region has a second dynamic friction coefficient. The distance of the second region in the belt conveyance direction is less than the distance of the first region and is greater than the distance of a contact portion in which the blade is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport belt, a first intermediate transfer belt, and a second intermediate transfer belt. The transport belt is disposed along a transport path extending in a vertical direction. The transport belt is configured to transport a recording medium while coming into contact with one surface of the recording medium. The first intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich the recording medium together with the transport belt. An image is transferred from the first intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium. The second intermediate transfer belt is disposed above the first intermediate transfer belt. The second intermediate transfer belt is configured to sandwich, together with the transport belt, the recording medium which is in a state where the recording medium is sandwiched between the first intermediate transfer belt and the transport belt. An image being transferred from the second intermediate transfer belt to the recording medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image holding unit that holds a toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image held by the image holding unit onto a medium in a transfer region, a reduction unit that is positioned further upstream than the transfer region and that reduces an electrical resistance of a first surface of the medium, the first surface being opposite to a second surface of the medium onto which an image is to be transferred, and a control unit that controls the reduction unit in accordance with a type of a medium to be used in such a manner that the electrical resistance of the first surface does not exceed a predetermined range.

Abstract: A fixing device fixes a toner image to a medium conveyed in a conveying direction, the toner image formed on the medium, the fixing device including a heating rotating body, a heater, a pressing member, a pressing rotating body, and a lubricant holding member. The heater heats the heating rotating body, which is supported to be rotatable. The pressing member is disposed inside the heating rotating body. The pressing rotating body is pressed against the pressing member through the heating rotating body to form a nip through which the medium passes. The lubricant holding member has an abutting surface that abuts against an inner circumferential surface of the heating rotating body, and the abutting surface includes a first region filled with a first lubricant and a second region filled with a second lubricant.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a circuit including both a circuit within a fixing unit and a power control circuit, provided with a first circuit which supplies power to a heater from an AC power supply, a second circuit electrically insulated from the first circuit, and a third circuit electrically insulated from both the first circuit and the second circuit, all of the first to third circuits are provided on at least one surface of a circuit board, and the first to third circuits are disposed on at least one straight line on which all of the first to third circuits are present on the one surface of the circuit board in the order of the first circuit, the third circuit and the second circuit.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless fixing film that can revolve, a contact member that comes into contact with an inner peripheral surface of the fixing film, a pressure roller that press-contacts the fixing film from an outside of the fixing film toward the contact member to form a fixing nip area between the fixing film and the pressure roller, a heater that heats the fixing film, and a reflective member that reflects light emitted from the heater toward the fixing film. A protective member that allows irradiation of the light to the fixing film is provided between the heater and the fixing film.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a fixing device includes a belt, a heater, and a holder. The belt is formed into a cylindrical shape, is rotated in a circumferential direction to transport a sheet, and applies heat to the sheet. The heater is arranged on an inner side of the belt and extends in a predetermined longitudinal direction to heat the belt. The holder extends in the longitudinal direction of the heater and holds the heater. The holder includes a support portion and a retraction portion. The support portion comes into contact with the heater and supports the heater. The retraction portion is provided at a position avoiding the support portion in the longitudinal direction of the heater, and includes a smaller contact area with the heater than the contact area between the support portion and the heater or does not come into contact with the heater.

Abstract: The fixing device having a long durability life includes a first member, a heater, and a second member, the heater including a base material, an intermediate layer on the base material, and a surface layer on the intermediate layer, which includes a diamond-like carbon film, the base material containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, and silicon nitride, and the intermediate layer has a ratio of [(Si)+(C)]/A of 0.8 or more, and a ratio of (Si)/(C) of more than 1.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a motor which is provided in a housing of the image forming apparatus; a first gear which includes a rotation shaft axially supported by the housing; a first bearing and a second bearing which support the rotation shaft of the first gear and are arranged on one side and the other side of the first gear; a second gear which includes a rotation shaft and meshes with the first gear; a rotating member to which the second gear is attached and which is rotatable with respect to the housing so as to be positioned at a first position at which the first gear and the second gear mesh with each other and at a second position at which the second gear is separated from the first gear; a third bearing and a fourth bearing which support the rotation shaft of the second gear and are arranged on one side and the other side of the second gear; and a holding member which is provided in the housing integrally holds the first bearing and the second bearing, the holding member having a first gr

Abstract: In an image forming system, a hardware processor controls whether the first sheet is conveyed to an upstream side of the image former via a first conveying path which reverses sides of the first sheet or via a second conveying path which does not reverse the sides of the first sheet as well as the first conveying path, when images are formed on both sides of a plurality of the first sheets by the image former, in order to narrow a space between a plurality of the first sheets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first display portion to display a ratio of an amount of toner accommodated in the developer container to a maximum amount of toner that the developer container is capable of accommodating, and a controller to, in a case where a replenishment operation, in which toner is supplied from the replenishment container to the replenishment port, is performed when a second display portion is in a second state, switch the second display portion from the second state to a first state and perform a display processing of displaying, on the first display portion, the ratio corresponding to an amount of toner accommodated in the developer container after the replenishment operation.

Abstract: A first transport unit transports, along a first path, a sheet transported from an image forming unit. A second transport unit transports the sheet along a second transport path branched from a junction with the first transport path. A first cover, when open, holds the sheet transported to an exterior of a housing and, when closed, partially constitutes the second transport unit. A flap is disposed at the junction and, when at a first position, blocks the second transport path and guides the sheet along the first transport path and, when at a second position, blocks the first transport path and guides the sheet along the second transport path. A drive unit moves the flap between the first position and the second position. A moving mechanism moves away from the flap in response to closing of the first cover, and pushes and moves the flap to the second position.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus has a fixing belt, a heater, a switch, a breaker, and a controller. The fixing belt is configured to circulate. The fixing belt is positioned to contact a sheet to which a toner image is transferred. The heater is configured to heat the fixing belt and thereby heat the toner image via the fixing belt. The switch is configured to selectively supply the heater with electric power provided by a power source. The breaker is connected between the power source and the switch. The breaker is operable in an OFF state and an ON state. The controller is configured to (i) switch the breaker to the OFF state from the ON state and (ii) maintain the breaker in the OFF state when (i) the state of the breaker is in the OFF state and (ii) circulation of the fixing belt is stopped.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the apparatus body, a replenishment restriction portion configured to switch between a restricting state in which toner replenishment through a replenishment port is restricted and an allowing state in which toner replenishment through the replenishment port is allowed, a toner remainder amount detection portion, and a controller. The controller is configured to, when the replenishment container is attached to the replenishment port, maintain the replenishment restriction portion in the restricting state in a case where a second printable sheet number is larger than a first printable sheet number, with the first printable sheet number being obtained from a lifetime of the cartridge, and the second printable sheet number being obtained from a sum of the amount of toner accommodated in the developer container and an amount of toner accommodated in the replenishment container.

Abstract: A waste toner storage case includes a case main body, a waste toner path, a conveyance portion, a conversion portion, and a moving member. The waste toner path is provided in the case main body. The conversion portion converts a rotary motion into a reciprocating motion in conjunction with a rotation of the rotation shaft. The moving member is coupled with the conversion portion, reciprocatingly moves in a direction along the inclined guide surface in accordance with the reciprocating motion from the conversion portion, and includes: a first extending portion extending from the coupling portion to the reception port; and a second extending portion extending from the coupling portion to the reception port to make a predetermined angle with respect to the first extending portion in a first direction separating from the inclined guide surface.

Abstract: A printer includes a main body including a printing unit for printing an image, a developer cartridge for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the printing unit and removable from the main body, a releasing member provided in the main body and pushing the developer cartridge in a removal direction to move the developer cartridge from a mounting position where the developer cartridge is locked to the main body to a removal position where the developer cartridge is unlocked, and a handle provided on the developer cartridge. The handle moves in conjunction with the movement of the developer cartridge from the mounting position to the removal position of the developer cartridge such that the handle is switched from a first position adjacent to a side of the developer cartridge to a second position protruding from the side of the developer cartridge, so that the handle can be gripped.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes a main casing, a belt accommodated in the main casing, developing units arranged along the belt, a drawer configured to detachably support the developing units, the drawer configured to move to a position inside the main casing and to a position outside the main casing, and the drawer having a leading end and a trailing end in a pulling direction from the inside position to the outside position; and a guide configured to guide the drawer and to move between a first position and a second position when the drawer is at the inside position, the second position being farther from the belt than the first position from the belt. When the guide is at the second position, the guide is configured to be tilted downward relative to a horizontal direction such that the leading end is lower than the trailing end.

Abstract: A first cartridge support is configured to support a drum cartridge. The first cartridge support is configured to move in a first direction between a first position at which the drum cartridge is mounted on a housing and a second position at which the drum cartridge is detachable. A second cartridge support is configured to support a development cartridge. The second cartridge support is configured to move in the first direction between a third position at which the development cartridge is mounted on the drum cartridge and a fourth position at which the development cartridge is detachable. In a state where the second cartridge support is located at the third position, the second cartridge support is located between the first cartridge support located at the first position and a cover located at a closed position with respect to the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, including a housing, a drum cartridge, a developing cartridge, a drawer movable between an inner position and an outer position and a lock member provided on the drawer and movable between a lock position at which the lock member locks the drum cartridge to the drawer, and a release position at which a lock between the drum cartridge and the drawer is released. The lock member includes an operation portion for moving the lock member between the lock position and the release position. The developing cartridge includes a cover member that covers at least a portion of the operation portion in a state in which the drum cartridge is mounted to the drawer, and the developing cartridge is mounted to the drum cartridge.

Abstract: A drum unit for a cartridge includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L1 and a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a first member having a cylindrical portion, a part of the first member being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum and a part of the first member being positioned outside of the photosensitive drum. The coupling member also includes a second member operatively connected to first member, the second member including a plurality of arm portions that are movable relative to the first member, with at least a part of each of the arm portions being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum and inside of the first member.

Abstract: A coupling member drum unit for a cartridge includes a cylindrical photosensitive drum having an axis L1 and a coupling member operatively connected to the photosensitive drum. The coupling member includes a drum flange provided at an end of the photosensitive drum, with a part of the drum flange being positioned inside of the photosensitive drum, and a connecting part operatively connected to the drum flange. The connecting part includes a cap positioned adjacent to the drum flange, an arm portion extending from the cap in a direction of the axis L1, and a projection projecting from the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to the axis L1, with the projection being movable between a first position and a second position, and with an end of the projection being closer to the axis L1 in the first position than in the second position.

Abstract: A drum unit includes: a frame; a first photosensitive drum; a second photosensitive drum; a charger; and a storage medium. The frame includes: a first frame plate; a second frame plate spaced apart from the first frame plate in a first direction; a third frame plate connecting one end of the first frame plate to one end of the second frame plate; and a fourth frame plate connecting another end of the first frame plate to another end of the second frame plate. The first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum are rotatably supported by the frame. The second photosensitive drum is spaced apart from the first photosensitive drum and positioned closer to the third frame plate than the first photosensitive drum to the third frame plate in a second direction. The storage medium has an electrical contact surface positioned at an outer surface of the third frame plate.

Abstract: A filter includes a collecting member that has a pleat and collects particles while allowing wind to pass through, and a holding member that holds the pleat at an end in an elongated direction in which the pleat is elongated. The holding member has a wind-passing portion through which wind flowing along the pleat is allowed to pass.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path; a first image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported; an image forming part that forms the image and is disposed adjacent to the first image transport path; and a second image transport path that is disposed so as to oppose the medium transport path, that is located at a distance from the image forming part, and along which an image to be formed on the medium is transported, the second image transport path, the first image transport path, and the medium transport path, together surrounding the image forming part.

Abstract: A system includes a laser emitting a laser beam, a beam expander expanding the laser beam, a beam splitter prism splitting the expanded laser beam into first and second split light beams, a liquid crystal box containing polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, first and second reflectors reflecting the first and second split light beams to the liquid crystal box, respectively, and an attenuator arranged on an optical path between the beam expander and the liquid crystal box. The attenuator gradually attenuates at least one of the laser beam, the expanded laser beam, the first split light beam, or the second split light beam along a first set curve. The first split light beam and the second split light beam form interference fringes at the liquid crystal box to expose the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal to form a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal holographic grating having a diffraction efficiency decreasing along a second set curve.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus (100) for creating a holographic ultrasound field (1) comprises an ultrasound source device (10) being adapted for creating an ultrasound wave, and a transmission hologram device (20) having a transmission hologram (21) and an exposed acoustic emitter surface (22), said transmission hologram device (20) being acoustically coupled with the ultrasound source device (10) and being arranged for transmitting the ultrasound wave through the acoustic emitter surface (22) and creating the holographic ultrasound field in a surrounding space, wherein the acoustic emitter surface (22) is a smooth surface which do not influence the field distribution of the ultrasound wave. Furthermore, a method of creating a holographic ultrasound field in an object (3), wherein the ultrasonic apparatus (100) is used, and applications of the ultrasonic apparatus (100) are described.

Abstract: A backlight unit for a binocular-holographic display device and a holographic display device including the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a light source unit which outputs light, a first beam expansion unit which expands, in a first direction, the light output from the light source unit, a second beam expansion unit which expands, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the light output from the first beam expansion unit, and a beam deflection unit which diffracts light incident on the first beam expansion unit. The holographic display device includes the backlight unit, a field lens, and a spatial light modulator.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a holographic display device and an electronic device. The holographic display device may include a light source, a light transmission structure, a first photonic crystal group, and a spatial light modulator. The light transmission structure has a light incident surface and a light exiting surface. The first photonic crystal group is disposed between the light incident surface and the light source. The first photonic crystal group includes various photonic crystals for dividing light emitted by the light source into light beams of different colors. The light beams of different colors are transmitted into the light transmission structure through the light incident surface and emitted through the light exiting surface. The spatial light modulator corresponds to the light exiting surface for modulating light beams of different colors emitted from the light exiting surface to form a holographic image.

Abstract: A timepiece oscillator structure includes at least one divisible unit, which includes at least one component which includes at least one flexible blade or at least one blade with necks, joining two main units, each more rigid than the flexible blade or blade with necks, where the divisible unit includes at least one protection unit adjacent to at least one main unit to which it is connected by at least one divisible linkage which is designed in order to make possible the detachment of this protection unit from the component when the component is fixed, with at least the particular main unit which is adjacent to the protection unit, to a more rigid external element than the flexible blade or than the necks of the blade with necks.

Abstract: An annular rotating bezel system intended to be rotatably mounted on a middle part of a watch case inside which is housed a timepiece movement which extends in a plane, including a rotating bezel, an annular holding ring, a toothed ring, and at least one elastic arm of which a free end is elastically and radially meshed with the toothed ring, said toothed ring and said at least one elastic arm being held in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the movement in the bezel by the annular holding ring, either the toothed ring or the elastic arm being arranged to be angularly joined to the rotating bezel, and other being arranged to be angularly joined to the case middle; wherein the elastic arm is formed of a flat strip-spring mounted in a cantilever arrangement in the system.

Abstract: A watch case for a wristwatch including a watch middle, at least one strut for supporting the watch middle, the strut extending beyond the space occupied by the watch middle, a device for removably attaching a watch strap to the strut. The watch case further includes a member for fixing the strut or one of the struts to the watch middle, the removable attachment device being formed when the strut is fixed to the watch middle, and the fixing member includes a device for detaching the strut from the watch middle, configured to allow release of the strut from the watch middle without using tools, the strut being removably fixed to the watch middle.

Abstract: A movement includes a first wheel which includes a wheel main body which is configured by a resin material and a metal layer which is configured by a metal material and is provided on an outer surface of the wheel main body, and a second wheel which is configured by a metal material, in which the movement transmits a drive force of an electric motor module which is driven using a battery as an electrical power source.

Abstract: A tool for actuating a corrector push-button fitted in a small portable object, wherein this actuation tool includes a body which extends between a rear end which defines a gripping zone of the actuation tool and a front end which defines an actuation zone of the actuation tool, at least the front end of the actuation tool being magnetised.

Abstract: A mechanical connection device, in particular a mechanical connection device for a timepiece or a mechanical transmission device for a timepiece, includes a first part having a first area with at least a first micro-cavity; and a second part having a second area with at least a second micro-cavity, the first and second areas being in contact with one another in a mechanical connection configuration.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of configuring a watch screen and a wearable electronic device implementing the same, which displays various pieces of information provided by an application, in an icon form, to enable a user to easily identify the information. A method of configuring a watch screen, the method comprising selecting one of a plurality of predetermined watch screens, thereby resulting in a selected watch screen; determining at least one icon of a plurality of predetermined icons as components of the selected watch screen; and displaying the selected watch screen, wherein the selected watch screen includes the at least one icon.

Abstract: A timepiece includes an antenna performing at least one of reception and transmission of an electric wave of a specific communication; an authentication mark certifying that the specific communication conforms to a technical standard; and a board in which wiring connected to an IC for controlling the specific communication and a timepiece function is disposed and at least a part of the authentication mark is disposed at a portion different from the wiring on the antenna.

Abstract: A home automation (HA) system may include HA operation devices within a user living area and an audible virtual assistant device within the user living area. The HA system may also include an HA hub device to provide communications for the HA operation devices, and a controller. The controller may be configured to store historical operational data for each of the HA operation devices based upon a user within the user living area, and use machine learning to determine an operational pattern of at least one of the HA operation devices based upon the stored historical operational data. The controller may also be configured to monitor operation of the HA operation devices and cooperate with the audible virtual assistant device to generate an audible notification based upon a determined operation of the at least one HA operation device according to the operational pattern.

Abstract: A process and a system collect data from a data-source into a manufacturing operation management (MOM) data warehouse. The data in the MOM data-warehouse are exposed according to a basic data model in which a performance parameter is linked to a basic set of context identifiers for MOM analysis purposes. The data in the data source are exposed according to a source data model in which a source performance parameter is linked to a source set of context identifiers. A data extensor module is provided for processing the data received from the data source to add, upon need, a context identifier linked to the source performance parameter. Whereby the added context identifier is present in the basic set but it is not present in the source set. The data extensor module processing data is received from the data source to obtain augmented data stored in the MOM data warehouse.

Abstract: A method for calculating control parameters of a heating supply power of a heating network, pertaining to the technical field of operation and control of a power system containing multiple types of energy. The method: establishing a heating network simulation model that simulates a thermal dynamic process of the heating network; starting an upward simulation based on the heating network simulation model to obtain first control parameters from a set of up adjustment amounts; starting a downward simulation based on the heating network simulation model, to obtain second control parameters from a set of down adjustment amounts.

Abstract: A building management system includes building equipment operable to affect a physical state of a building. The building management system includes a system manager coupled to the building equipment via a system bus, the system manager comprising a schedule manager configured to control an operation schedule of the building equipment. A client device is configured to communicate with the schedule manager to modify operation schedules of the building equipment or add new operation schedules for the building equipment. The schedule manager comprises a list of available schedules for the building equipment and is configured to, in response to modification of the operation schedules or addition of new operation schedules, update the list of available schedules to include the modification or the new operation schedule.

Abstract: An automation optimization engine is disclosed that provides a closed loop nodal analysis on a process performance tree. By analyzing an observed process and identifying automatable tasks from non-automatable tasks from the observed process, the automation optimization engine then applies machine learning techniques to generate a recommendation report identifying steps for implementing in the observed process to convert the non-automatable tasks into automatable tasks. Optimization is thus achieved to close the loop to further automate the observed process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the dynamic parameterization of at least one sensor in an industrial process in which measurement data of the process are acquired by means of a configuration sensor and of a productive sensor, with the configuration sensor and the productive sensor being sensors of the same kind; the measurement data are transmitted to a control unit; the control unit generates a parameter set for the productive sensor with reference to the measurement data and transmits the parameter set to the productive sensor; and the productive sensor uses the parameter set in operation.

Abstract: An optimization device includes: search circuits, each configured to: hold values of state variables included in an evaluation function representing an energy value; calculate a change value of the energy value for each of state transitions which occurs in response to a change in one of the state variables; and determine stochastically whether to accept one of the state transitions according to a relative relationship between the change value of the energy value and thermal excitation energy, based on a set temperature value, the change value, and a random number value; and a controller configured to: acquire statistical information regarding a transition of a temperature value in each search circuit; determine a temperature value to be set in each search circuit based on the statistical information; set the temperature value for each search circuit; and exchange the temperature value or the values of the state variables between the search circuits.

Abstract: A method for managing a microgrid, the microgrid having an intermittent energy source and energy storage, comprising: using a microgrid asset management system, dispatching the energy storage to maintain optimal power flow to and from a power grid by: producing a generation forecast and a generation forecast error probability distribution for an intermittent energy source coupled to the microgrid from a historic generation forecast and one or more measurements; generating random intermittent energy source generation inputs from at least one of historic generation data, the historic generation forecast, and the generation forecast error probability distribution; using the random intermittent energy source generation inputs, calculating a microgrid performance value using a microgrid performance model and a microgrid financial value using a microgrid financial model; and, selecting an energy storage dispatch scenario to optimize operation of the microgrid using at least one of the microgrid performance value an

Abstract: Various embodiments include a device comprising: two connectors for powering the device; a controller to operate an HVAC system; a memory; a transponder controller and an antenna for near field communication; and a transponder memory storing a configuration version and an address list. Firmware in the transponder memory includes instructions for the controller to: connect to a handheld device; determine an address thereof; determine whether the address is on the list; if so: receive initial configuration data from the handheld device, and store it in the transponder memory. There is firmware in the device memory telling it to: connect to the transponder controller; read a device version; read the configuration version in the transponder memory; determine whether the configuration version is compatible with the device version; and if so, transfer the initial configuration data to the memory, and thereafter use the initial configuration data in operation of the system.

Abstract: A data storage of a communication device stores a communication parameter. A communication parameter responder of a controller, upon receipt from a control device, via a communicator, of a communication parameter request-command indicating a communication parameter request, reads and acquires the communication parameter stored in the data storage. The communication parameter responder generates a response command containing the acquired communication parameter and sends the response command to the control device via the communicator.