Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention has an arrangement wherein between (a) a liquid crystal display element prepared by inserting a liquid crystal layer to a spacing between a pair of electrode substrates and (b) a pair of polarizers provided on the both sides of the liquid crystal display element, there is provided at least one phase difference plate having a negative refractive index anisotropy whose optical axis is inclined with respect to a direction normal to the surface thereof, and a change, with a wavelength of light, in the refractive index anisotropy of a liquid crystal material constituting the liquid crystal layer is set in a range which does not generate viewing-angle-dependant coloration on a liquid crystal screen.

Abstract: A reflector including a substrate and a thin metal film is provided. The substrate defines a plurality of randomly arranged, curved, surface deformity portions, each having an asymmetric cross section. Typically, the surface deformity/substrate structure is formed by creating curved pieces of resist material on a substrate, and thereafter, tilting and heating the substrate. Alternatively, a photoresist process utilizing an ion, or an electron beam without heating, can be used. The metal film is coated onto the surface of the substrate and onto the curved, surface deformities located thereon, such that light incident from a given direction is reflected over a wide range, but most intensely in particular directions. Further, a liquid crystal display is provided in which the reflector just mentioned is used as a lower substrate. An upper glass substrate is provided, and a liquid crystal display medium is interposed between the reflector and the upper glass substrate.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display element composed of a pair of transparent substrates, each provided with a transparent electrode layer and an alignment layer on a surface facing the other substrate, and a liquid crystal layer enclosed therebetween, a pair of polarizers provided on both sides of the liquid crystal display element, and at least one optical phase difference plate having inclined refractive index ellipsoid, positioned between the liquid crystal display element and the pair of polarizers, wherein the alignment layer aligns in different directions divided liquid crystal layers which have been prepared by dividing the liquid crystal layer at different ratios with respect to each pixel, and the liquid crystal layer made of a liquid crystal material whose change in refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.

Abstract: A document scanning unit is disposed so that a scanning direction of a document on a table glass by a lamp unit is equal to a longitudinal direction of a photoreceptor drum provided in a mechanism unit. A face-down tray is mounted above the document scanning unit, and a face-up tray is positioned on a side of the apparatus opposite to the face-down tray with respect to the mechanism unit. The discharge-opening switching section switches the discharge openings so that a recording sheet is discharged to the face-down tray in a printer mode, or to the face-up tray in a copy mode. This structure enables a reduction in the size of an image forming apparatus by decreasing the width of the apparatus without increasing the height thereof. Moreover, with this structure, it is possible to perform the discharge of sheets according to operation modes, namely the printer mode and the copy mode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member mounted to an apparatus main body so that it can be open and closed, and a head cover for protecting the surface of a control electrode when opening the opening and closing member without disturbing an operation of controlling the flying of a toner by the control electrode in a closed state of the opening and closing member as being moved interlocking with opening and closing operations of the opening and closing member. According to the described arrangement, when the opening and closing member is open to remove a jammed sheet, exchange a toner cartridge, carry out various checking for printing inferior or install and remove a unit including the control electrode with respect to the apparatus main body, the control electrode which would be exposed otherwise can be prevented from being touched with an operator's finger or other member of the apparatus, etc.

Abstract: In case of printing a stamp logotype in a constitution in which a distance from a printing position to a cutting position is relatively short, it is designed to prevent useless space from being formed at the top region of a receipt and to appropriate relatively wide area for a stamp logotype printing region. A printer controller controls a head and a cutter so that, when a length of the stamp logotype is longer than a distance L from the printing position of the head to the cutting position of the cutter, the image of the stamp logotype is divided into a first logotype A equal to the distance L and a remaining second logotype B, so as to have the logotype A printed on the receipt before a preceding receipt is cut, and the logotype B printed on the receipt after the preceding receipt is cut.

Abstract: A method for conducting data writing/reading-out utilizing a contact start and stop (CSS) system is provided. The system includes a magnetic disc having a data zone for writing/reading-out of data and a contact start and stop (CSS) zone having a taking-off/landing region, and a stopping region for contact start and stop operation of a magnetic head. A plurality of projections are provided in the CSS zone such that the relative height of the projections in the taking-off/landing region decreases in the radial outward direction from the center of the magnetic disc toward the data zone. An average gradient for the height of the projections in the taking-off/landing zone is between about 1.times.10.sup.-6 and about 5.times.10.sup.-5. Further, the maximum height of the projections in the CSS zone is greater than the flying height of the magnetic head in the data zone, and the minimum height of the projections in the CSS zone is lower than the flying height of the magnetic head in the data zone.