Author: claimsbot

1. A flashlight comprising:
a body having a first end and a second end, the first end including an illumination source and the second end including an opening for accessing an interior of the body;
at least one battery disposed in the body via the opening in the second end, the at least one battery coupled to and configured for powering the illumination source;
a controller disposed in the body configured to determine if the body is in motion, wherein if the body is not in motion for a first predetermined period of time, the controller decouples the at least one battery from the illumination source to conserve energy in the at least one battery; and
a visual indictor disposed on an exterior surface of the body, wherein the controller activates the visual indicator after a second predetermined period of time of no motion, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
2. The flashlight of claim 1, further comprising at least one first switch for coupling the at least one battery to the illumination source, the at least one first switch being controlled by the controller.
3. The flashlight of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensing device coupled to the controller, the motion sensing device configured to detect motion of the body.
4. The flashlight of claim 3, wherein the motion sensing device is an accelerometer.
5. The flashlight of claim 1, further comprising an audible indictor disposed on an exterior surface of the body, wherein the controller activates the audible indicator after the second predetermined period of time of no motion, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
6. The flashlight of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to intermittently activate the at least one first switch after the second predetermined period of time of no motion to flash the illumination source, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
7. The flashlight of claim 3, further comprising a second switch for enabling or disabling the motion sensing device, the second switch being disposed on an exterior surface of the body for manual activation by a user.
8. A method for conserving battery life in a flashlight, the method comprising:
manually activating the flashlight by a user;
detecting if the flashlight is in motion;
upon detecting that the flashlight is not in motion, activating a visual indicator; and
upon detecting that the flashlight is not in motion for a predetermined period of time, deactivating the flashlight.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating an audible indicator a second predetermined period of time after activating the visual indicator.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the activating the visual indicator step includes intermittently activating an illumination source of the flashlight.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the detecting if the flashlight is in motion step further comprises starting a timer to count to the predetermined period of time.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising restarting the timer by shaking the flashlight.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is adjustable.
14. A battery-conserving electronic device comprising:
a body including an opening for accessing an interior of the body;
at least one battery disposed in the body and configured for powering the device;
a controller disposed in the body configured to determine if the body is in motion, wherein if the body is not in motion for a first predetermined period of time, the controller decouples the at least one battery from the electronic device to conserve energy in the at least one battery; and
a visual indictor disposed on an exterior surface of the body, wherein the controller activates the visual indicator after a second predetermined period of time of no motion, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
15. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising at least one first switch for coupling the at least one battery to the electronic device, the at least one first switch being controlled by the controller.
16. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a motion sensing device coupled to the controller, the motion sensing device configured to detect motion of the body.
17. The electronic device of claim 16, further comprising a second switch for enabling or disabling the motion sensing device, the second switch being disposed on an exterior surface of the body for manual activation by a user.
18. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising an audible indictor disposed on an exterior surface of the body, wherein the controller activates the audible indicator after the second predetermined period of time of no motion, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
19. A flashlight comprising:
a body having a first end and a second end, the first end including an illumination source and the second end including an opening for accessing an interior of the body;
at least one battery disposed in the body via the opening in the second end, the at least one battery coupled to and configured for powering the illumination source;
a controller disposed in the body configured to determine if the body is in motion, wherein if the body is not in motion for a first predetermined period of time, the controller decouples the at least one battery from the illumination source to conserve energy in the at least one battery; and
an audible indictor disposed on an exterior surface of the body, wherein the controller activates the audible indicator after a second predetermined period of time of no motion, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
20. A battery-conserving electronic device comprising:
a body including an opening for accessing an interior of the body;
at least one battery disposed in the body and configured for powering the device;
a controller disposed in the body configured to determine if the body is in motion, wherein if the body is not in motion for a first predetermined period of time, the controller decouples the at least one battery from the electronic device to conserve energy in the at least one battery; and
an audible indictor disposed on an exterior surface of the body, wherein the controller activates the audible indicator after a second predetermined period of time of no motion, the second predetermined period of time being less than the first predetermined period of time.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A computing device adapted for connecting to one or more external devices, comprising:
one or more external connectors each adapted for connecting to an external device and including at least a ground line, a power line and one or more data inputoutput (IO) lines;
one or more computing nodes connected to each other and to the external connectors, each computing node including a central processing unit, a memory, or an inputoutput interface, wherein at least one computing node has a computing state machine and programs that describes and controls the behavior of the computing nodes at least during a connection event when an external connector is being connected to an external device and during a disconnection event when an external connector is being disconnected from an external device;
a power unit connected to the external connectors and the computing nodes for supplying power to the computing nodes or for filtering signals on the power line; and
a flexible enclosure structure encasing the external connectors, computing nodes and power unit and adapted to permit the external connectors to be connected with external devices, the enclosure structure being made of flexible materials, wherein the computing device is free of any user data input devices exposed through the flexible enclosure, whereby the computing device forms a physically integrated unit by the enclosure structure free of a rigid frame.
2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device has a weight of less than about one pound and wherein the external connectors are capable of mechanically supporting the computing device.
3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein each computing node dissipates one watt or less of power during normal usage.
4. The computing device of claim 1, comprising at least two external connectors.
5. A method of using a plurality of the computing devices of claim 4, comprising:
connecting a first external connector of a first computing device to the host computer; and
connecting a first external connector of a second computing device to a second external connector of the first computing device.
6. The computing device of claim 1,
wherein the external connector includes a switch connected to the power line,
wherein the power unit comprises an inductor connected in series with the power line voltage; and
wherein the switch is coupled to disconnect the inductor from the power line upon detection of the beginning of a disconnection event.
7. The computing device of claim 6, wherein each external connector further comprises a detector for detecting a disconnection event, the external connector being adapted to be connected to an external device such that a connection for the detector is disconnected first, the power and data lines are disconnected second, and the ground line is disconnected last.
8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein at least one computing node is programmed to receive or transmit information on the IO lines from or to another computing node or an external device, to be in transmission readiness regardless of whether a corresponding program on the other computing node or the external device is ready, and to receive or transmit information when the corresponding program is ready, whereby the computing nodes of the computing device communicate with each other or with an external device across the IO lines of the external connector.
9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one computing node is programmed to reach conditional readiness for one or more predetermined conditions, and to proceed when one of the conditions becomes true, on a program branch based on which of the conditions is chosen.
10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the conditions include timeouts.
11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the conditions include transmission readiness on the IO lines, wherein the condition is evaluated regardless of whether the corresponding program on the other computing node or the external device is ready.
12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one computer node is programmed to trigger nested programs to receive or transmit information on the IO lines.
13. A reconfigurable computing system comprising one or more computing devices of claim 1 and one or more host computers,
wherein each host computer has an outlet adapted to be connected to an external connector of a computing device, the outlet including at least a ground line and one or more data inputoutput (IO) lines;
wherein the outlet of at least one host computer includes a power line;
wherein each computing device is connected via external connectors to a host computer or another computing device such that each computing device is connected to a host computer either directly or through other computing devices;
wherein each computing device has at least one computing node programmed to receive or transmit information on the IO lines from or to another computing device or host computer connected to the computing device, to be in transmission readiness regardless of whether a corresponding program on the connected computing device or host computer is ready, and to receive or transmit information when the corresponding program is ready;
wherein each host computer is programmed to receive or transmit information on the IO lines from or to a computing device connected to it, to be in transmission readiness regardless of whether a corresponding program on the connected computing device is ready, and to receive or transmit information when the corresponding program on the connected computing device is ready;
whereby the computing devices and the host computers form a connected set and communicate with each other through the IO lines.
14. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 13, wherein each computing device stably functions and communicates with other connected computing devices or host computer after any one of the external connectors of the computing device is connected to a host computer or another computing device that is powered.
15. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 13, wherein at least one computing device or host computer is programmed to detect another computing device, which is not previously connected to the at least one computing device or host computer, being connected to the computing device or host computer, and to communicate with the other computing device.
16. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 15, wherein the computing device or host computer loads programming to the other computing device after detecting the other computing device being connected.
17. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 13, wherein the host computer is programmed to place communications between a first computing device or the host computer and a second computing device in a paused state by normal program control, thereby allowing the second computing device to be disconnected from a host outlet or an external connection without pausing the programming on the first computing device or the host computer.
18. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 17, wherein the host computer is programmed to cause a communication previously placed in a paused state to leave the paused state and continue running after another computing device is connected to the host outlet or external connection from which the second computing device was disconnected, the other computing device being either the second computing device or a different computing device.
19. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 13, wherein each external connector of the computing devices includes a circuit for detecting a connection or disconnection event, wherein a transmitting computing device is programmed to transmit data in units of a data unit size, wherein a receiving computing device is programmed to transmit an acknowledgement after receiving each transmitted data of the data unit size, wherein the transmitting computing device is programmed such that if a data transmission of the data unit size is terminated by a disconnection event without the transmitting computing device receiving an acknowledgement, the transmitting computing device keeps a copy of the interrupted data transmission and retransmits the data if the disconnected receiving computing device is reconnected.
20. The reconfigurable computing system of claim 13, further comprising one or more peripheral devices each connected to a computing device.
21. A computing device adapted for connecting to one or more external devices, comprising:
one or more external connectors each adapted for connecting to the external device and including one or more data inputoutput (IO) lines, each external connector including circuitry for generating or detecting a disconnect signal prior to the disconnection of the external connector from an external device;
one or more computing nodes connected to each other and to the external connectors, each computing node including a central processing unit, a memory, or an inputoutput interface, wherein at least one computing node has a computing state machine and programs that describes and controls the behavior of the computing nodes at least during a connection event when an external connector is being connected to an external device and during a disconnection event when an external connector is being disconnected from an external device;
wherein at least one computing node is programmed to receive or transmit information on the IO lines from or to an external device, to be in transmission readiness regardless of whether a corresponding program on the external device is ready, to receive or transmit information when the corresponding program is ready, to reach conditional readiness for one or more predetermined conditions, and to proceed when one of the conditions becomes true on a program branch based on which of the conditions is chosen, the conditions including transmission readiness on the IO lines and the condition being evaluated regardless of whether the corresponding program on the external device is ready,
wherein the computing nodes of the computing device communicate with an external device across the IO lines of the external connector.

1. A transfer member comprising:
a shaft; and
a body that is supported by the shaft, wherein when a measurement member extending in an axial direction of the shaft is brought into contact with an outer surface of the body and voltage applied to the measurement member is changed by electrically connecting the shaft to ground, a time constant measured based on a change in electric potential occurring on a surface of the measurement member is defined as a first time constant \u03c4v s, wherein when a first measurement member extending in the axial direction is brought into contact with the outer surface of the body, a second measurement member extending in the axial direction is brought into contact with the outer surface of the body while being spaced apart from the first measurement member by a predetermined distance in a circumferential direction of the outer surface of the body, and voltage applied to the first measurement member is changed by electrically connecting the shaft to ground, a time constant measured based on a change in electric potential occurring on a surface of the second measurement member is defined as a second time constant \u03c4s s, and wherein the first time constant \u03c4v s is larger than the second time constant \u03c4s s.
2. The transfer member according to claim 1,
wherein when an Asker C hardness of the outer surface of the body is defined as H, the Asker C hardness H, the first time constant \u03c4v s, and the second time constant \u03c4s s are set in the body such that (1H)\xd70.5<\u03c4s<\u03c4v is satisfied.
3. The transfer member according to claim 1,
wherein the body has an electrical-conductivity additive blended therein, and wherein the electrical-conductivity additive is distributed more densely toward the outer surface of the body from the shaft.
4. The transfer member according to claim 1,
wherein the body has an electrical-conductivity additive blended therein, and wherein the electrical-conductivity additive is uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the body.
5. The transfer member according to claim 1,
wherein the body has an electrical-conductivity additive blended therein, and wherein the electrical-conductivity additive is distributed in the body such that a distance between portions of the electrical-conductivity additive in the circumferential direction of the outer surface of the body is shorter than a distance between portions of the electrical-conductivity additive in a direction extending from the shaft toward the outer surface of the body.
6. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an endless-belt-shaped image bearing member;
the transfer member according to claim 1 that transfers a visible image on a surface of the image bearing member onto a medium; and
a fixing device that fixes the visible image transferred on the medium.
7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
an electrically-conductive cleaning member that is disposed downstream, in a rotational direction of the transfer member, of a facing region in which the transfer member faces the image bearing member and that cleans the transfer member, the cleaning member being electrically connected to ground.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein when a distance from a downstream end of the facing region in the rotational direction of the transfer member to a position where the cleaning member comes into contact with the transfer member is defined as La mm, the cleaning member is disposed at a position that satisfies:
La\u2266{(\u03c4v\u03c4s)1.25}\xd712\u03c0.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7,
wherein the cleaning member includes
a first cleaning member that has a brush portion having a plurality of bristles, and
a second plate-shaped cleaning member that is disposed downstream of the first cleaning member in the rotational direction of the transfer member and that cleans the transfer member.
10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein the transfer member has a surface whose ten-point medium height is set to 2.0 \u03bcm or smaller.
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein the first cleaning member has a rotation shaft and the brush portion having the bristles extending radially around the rotation shaft, and
wherein the image forming apparatus further comprises:
a supplying section that supplies a lubricant, which lubricates the transfer member and the second cleaning member, by coming into contact with the brush portion at an upstream side, in a rotational direction of the first cleaning member, of a position where the first cleaning member comes into contact with the transfer member.
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:
a power source that applies voltage between the image bearing member and the transfer member, the power source being capable of only applying voltage with a polarity for transferring the visible image on the surface of the image bearing member onto the medium.
13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
an electricity removal member that removes electricity from the medium at a downstream side, in a transport direction of the medium, of a facing region in which the transfer member faces the image bearing member.
14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13,
wherein the electricity removal member has an electricity removal section that removes electricity from the medium, the electricity removal section being disposed upstream, in a rotational direction of the transfer member, of an imaginary line that connects a position on the transfer member, at which a distance Lb mm from a central position of the facing region of the transfer member in the rotational direction of the transfer member satisfies Lb={(\u03c4v\u03c4s)1.94}\xd76\u03c0, and a rotation axis of the transfer member.
15. An image forming apparatus comprising:
an image bearing member;
a latent-image forming device that forms a latent image onto a surface of the image bearing member;
a developing device that develops the latent image on the surface of the image bearing member into a visible image;
an endless-belt-shaped intermediate transfer body that is disposed facing the image bearing member;
a first-transfer unit that transfers the visible image on the surface of the image bearing member onto a surface of the intermediate transfer body;
a support member that supports the intermediate transfer body in a movable manner;
a transfer member that is disposed facing the intermediate transfer body and that transfers the visible image on the surface of the intermediate transfer body onto a medium passing through a facing region in which the transfer member faces the intermediate transfer body, the transfer member having a shaft and a body supported by the shaft, wherein when a measurement member extending in an axial direction of the shaft is brought into contact with an outer surface of the body and voltage applied to the measurement member is changed by electrically connecting the shaft to ground, a time constant measured based on a change in electric potential occurring on a surface of the measurement member is defined as a first time constant \u03c4v s, wherein when a first measurement member extending in the axial direction is brought into contact with the outer surface of the body, a second measurement member extending in the axial direction is brought into contact with the outer surface of the body while being spaced apart from the first measurement member by a predetermined distance in a circumferential direction of the outer surface of the body, and voltage applied to the first measurement member is changed by electrically connecting the shaft to ground, a time constant measured based on a change in electric potential occurring on a surface of the second measurement member is defined as a second time constant \u03c4s s, wherein a volume resistance value of the body is defined as Rv \u03a9, wherein a surface resistance value of the body is defined as Rs \u03a9, wherein a peripheral speed of the outer surface of the body is defined as v mms, wherein a length of the facing region in a transport direction of the medium is defined as L mm, and wherein the first time constant \u03c4v s, the second time constant \u03c4s s, the volume resistance value Rv \u03a9 of the body, the surface resistance value Rs \u03a9 of the body, the peripheral speed v mms of the outer surface of the body, and the length L mm of the facing region in the transport direction of the medium are set such that (Lv)\xd7(RvRs)<\u03c4s<\u03c4v is satisfied; and
a fixing device that fixes the visible image transferred on the medium.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for synchronizing a state of a second terminal to a state of a first terminal in a case where the first terminal is docked on the second terminal through a plurality of interfaces, the state synchronizing method between docked terminals comprising:
determining by the first terminal whether or not the first terminal is interlocked to the second terminal;
turning off signal which the first terminal transmits to a TMDS data line, when it is determined that the first terminal is not interlocked to the second terminal; and
entering by the second terminal into sleep mode, when it is confirmed that the signal received from the TMDS data line is turned off.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether or not the second terminal satisfies conditions of entering into sleep mode, and
wherein the entering by the second terminal is characterized in that the second terminal enters into sleep mode, when it is confirmed that the signal received from the TMDS data line is turned off, after satisfying conditions of entering into sleep mode.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether or not the first terminal entered into an android sleep state which is applied in the android platform; and
wherein the determining is characterized in that the first terminal determines whether or not the first terminal is interlocked to the second terminal when the first terminal enters into the android sleep state.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the first terminal is characterized to be a mobile phone, and the second terminal is a desktop, tablet PC or laptop which contains space where the first terminal can be docked on, and
information processed in the mobile phone is output in the desktop, tablet PC or laptop when the mobile phone is interlocked on the desktop, tablet PC or laptop.
5. A system for synchronizing a state of a second terminal to a state of a first terminal in a case where the first terminal is docked on the second terminal through a plurality of interfaces, the state synchronizing system between docked terminals comprising:
a first terminal which turns off signal transmitted to a TMDS data line, when it is determined that the first terminal is not interlocked on the second terminal; and
a second terminal which enters into sleep mode when it is confirmed that the signal received from the TMDS data line is turned off when conditions for entering into sleep mode are satisfied.