CPC Class H04N

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a developing unit to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member with toner, and a detachable toner container in which toner for supplying to the developing unit is contained. A measuring unit measures information relating to an amount of toner in the developing unit, and a determination unit determines an amount of toner in the developing unit based on the measured information. In a case where the determination unit determines that the toner container is empty, a supply operation for supplying toner from the toner container to the developing unit is performed and the measuring unit measures the information relating to an amount of toner in the toner container after the supply operation is performed, and in a case where the information relating to an amount of toner in the toner container measured after the supply operation is performed is within a measurement error range, the determination unit determines that the toner container is empty.

An image forming apparatus includes a hand detection sensor that detects a hand within a predetermined range from a grasping part of a sheet feeding cassette, a locking mechanism capable of locking the sheet feeding cassette in a closed state with respect to the image forming apparatus body, and an operation control unit that operates the locking mechanism to lock the sheet feeding cassette when the hand is detected by the hand detection sensor during the execution of a printing process in an image forming apparatus body, interrupts the printing process after the locking, and releases the locking by the locking mechanism after the interruption.

A power supply apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit insulated from the first circuit includes an adjustment unit and a detector in the first circuit, a controller in the second circuit, and first and second communication units in the first and second circuits, respectively. The adjustment unit is configured to adjust power. The controller is configured to control the adjustment unit. The detector is configured to detect a parameter. The second communication unit is configured to perform wireless communication with the first communication unit. The first communication unit is operated with power supplied to the first communication unit by a signal generated in the first communication unit due to a signal output from the controller to the second communication unit, and transmits information about a result of detection by the detector to the second communication unit. The controller controls the adjustment unit based on the information.

A method for assisting operation of a vehicle traveling on a roadway includes acquiring visual images around the vehicle with at least one visual camera having a field of view and acquiring thermal images around the vehicle with at least one thermal camera having the field of view. The thermal images are superimposed over the visual images to produce composite images. An object is detected in the composite images. A vehicle assist system adjusts at least one of a direction of travel and speed of the vehicle in response to detecting the object.