Abstract: A photoelectric converter of a high signal-to-noise ratio, low cost, high productivity and stable characteristics and a system including the above photoelectric converter. The photoelectric converter includes a photoelectric converting portion in which a first electrode layer, an insulating layer for inhibiting carriers from transferring, a photoelectric converting semiconductor layer of a non-single-crystal type, an injection blocking layer for inhibiting a first type of carriers from being injected into the semiconductor layer and a second electrode layer are laminated in this order on an insulating substrate.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a light guide unit with a light source for applying light to an image reading surface, and a board provided with a photoelectrical conversion element for photoelectrically converting light reflected from the image reading surface into an electrical signal, wherein the light guide unit is supported by the board by making the light guide unit in contact with the board.

Abstract: A radiation detecting device having a wavelength converter for converting radiation into photoelectrically convertible light and a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of a matrix which pixel comprises a sensor element for converting the light into an electric signal and a thin film transistor (TFT) for transfer connected to the sensor element to successively transfer a signal from the pixel, the detecting device comprises a means for turning on the TFT to be turned on first among the TFTs for transfer after the delay of at least (n×&tgr;1), wherein &tgr;1 is a time constant of a characteristic of the wavelength converter, and n is ln(SN) in which SN is a desired signal to noise ratio, after the irradiation is stopped, thereby transferring a signal stored in its corresponding pixel.

Abstract: A photoelectric converter of a high signal-to-noise ratio, low cost, high productivity and stable characteristics and a system including the above photoelectric converter. The photoelectric converter includes a photoelectric converting portion in which a first electrode layer, an insulating layer for inhibiting carriers from transferring, a photoelectric converting semiconductor layer of a non-single-crystal type, an injection blocking layer for inhibiting a first type of carriers from being injected into the semiconductor layer and a second electrode layer are laminated in this order on an insulating substrate.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge storage unit, a switch unit, and a wiring unit, all of which are formed on a single substrate. A capacitor of the charge storage unit is formed at the same substrate position as that of a pattern of said wiring unit.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged two-dimensionally on a substrate wherein the X-ray or light incidence side of some proper one or ones of the photoelectric conversion elements S13 is covered with a shielding member whose transmittance to an X-ray or light is equal to zero or substantially zero so that the photoelectric conversion elements covered with the shielding member act as correction photoelectric conversion elements thereby achieving an improvement in production yield, a reduction in cost, and a reduction in the time required to read the correction output signals, and also high performance capable of obtaining a moving picture.

Abstract: An antilock brake system (ABS) control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle, having a slope identifier for determining the drive status of the vehicle along a slope before an ABS control is started, and a controller that changes the usual ABS control to a control in which the ABS control is restricted on condition that the state of the drive along the slope has been decided, whereby the braking distance of the vehicle during the drive along the slope can be shortened.

Abstract: There is disclosed an illumination device in which a light guide is adapted to emit the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to the area, whereby attained are compactness, a low cost, a low electric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. There are also disclosed an image reading device and an information processing apparatus, equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having a photoelectric conversion section and a transistor for transferring or amplification of the photoelectric conversion signal or an accumulating section of a photo carrier. The photoelectric conversion section and the transistor or the accumulating section have common semiconductor layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed an illumination device in which a light guide is adapted to emit the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to said area, whereby attained are compactness, a low cost, a low electric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. There are also disclosed an image reading device and an information processing apparatus, equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.

Abstract: The yaw moment reducing device comprises wheel speed sensors for detecting the speeds of the right and left wheels, an acceleration calculation device for calculating accelerations of the right and left wheels based on the speed of the right and left wheels, a substraction device for subtracting the difference in accelerations between the right and left wheels, a braking control device for controlling the braking force based on the difference of the accelerations, and a brake pressure modulating device for modulating the brake pressure which is supplied to each wheel. The wheel speeds of each wheel are detected by the wheel speed sensors. The acceleration calculation device calculates the accelerations of each wheel while the substraction device provides the difference in accelerations between the right and left wheels. The yaw moment is in response to the difference of the acceleration between the right and left wheels.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having a photoelectric conversion section and a transistor for transferring or amplification of the photoelectric conversion signal or an accumulating section of a photo carrier. The photoelectric conversion section and the transistor or the accumulating section have common semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A TFT device has an insulation substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the insulation substrate, a pair of opposed electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor layer with an insulation film interposed therebetween, wherein a region doped with at least one type of impurity selected from atoms belonging to the V group of the periodic table is formed in the semiconductor layer at the vicinity of the interface between the semiconductor layer and the insulation layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having a photoelectric conversion section and a transistor for transferring or amplification of the photoelectric conversion signal or an accumulating section of a photo carrier. The photoelectric conversion section and the transistor or the accumulating section have common semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for controlling a braking force applied to a road wheel, with a hydraulic braking pressure supplied to a wheel brake cylinder through an actuator. A standard speed is set on the basis of a wheel speed detected by a wheel speed sensor, and a peak of the wheel speed changing from increase thereof to decrease thereof is detected. A coefficient of friction of road surface is determined on the basis of a vehicle acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor. The actuator is controlled according to a pressure control mode selected from a decrease mode for decreasing the pressure, a hold mode for holding the pressure, a first increase mode for increasing the pressure when the wheel speed exceeds the standard speed, and a second increase mode for increasing the pressure when the wheel speed exceeds the peak of the wheel speed.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus having a thin plate glass wear-resisting layer is formed on photoelectric conversion devices, drive circuit and signal lines. An original document is disposed on the wear-resisting layer to confront the photoelectric conversion devices. Light is emitted from a light source disposed to confront the light transmissive substrate on the side opposing the original document, transmitted through a light transmissive substrate and applied to the original document. Reflected light from the original document is received by the photoelectric conversion devices so that electric signals transmitted from the photoelectric conversion devices can be read out through the signal lines.

Abstract: A photosensor having an electrically insulating, translucent substrate; an opaque conductive layer formed on the substrate; and insulating layer formed on the conductive layer, and a semiconductive layer formed on the insulating layer for receiving light and providing a current corresponding thereto. A pair of electrodes are formed in contact with the semiconductor layer and define a light receiving window therebetween. The electrodes are formed so as to not substantially overlap the conductive layer. The conductive layer is supplied with a bias voltage corresponding to a polarity and an amount of carriers defining the current of the semiconductor layer and a voltage Va of a small absolute value during a non-reading period of the photosensor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an anti-skid control system for controlling a braking force applied to a road wheel with a hydraulic braking pressure supplied to a wheel brake cylinder through a pressure control valve controlled by an electronic controller. On the basis of a wheel speed of the road wheel detected by a wheel speed sensor, the controller calculates an estimated vehicle speed and sets a reference speed on the basis thereof. In the controller, the wheel speed is compared with the reference speed, and in response to a result of comparison the hydraulic pressure supplied to the wheel brake cylinder is controlled by the pressure control valve. Through an adjustment by the controller, the hydraulic braking pressure is decreased in response to a change of difference between the wheel speed and the estimated vehicle speed for a certain period of time.

Abstract: An image reading device has photo-sensor units arranged in the form of an array constituting a line sensor. Each sensor unit includes a light-shielding layer formed on a light-transmitting substrate, an insulating layer formed on the light-shielding layer, a semiconductor layer disposed on the insulating layer, and a pair of upper electrodes provided on the semiconductor layer and spaced from each other. The space between the upper electrodes constitutes a light-receiving window through which the semiconductor layer receives light applied from the reverse side of the substrate onto the surface of an image-carrying original and reflected by the original. Thus, the semiconductor layer produces an electric signal representing the read image. The light-shielding layer is made of an electrically conductive material such as a metal.

Abstract: An image photodetector includes a photosensor unit, a charge storage unit, and a switch unit, all of them are formed on a single-crystal semiconductor film grown from a single nucleus such that crystal formation is performed on a substrate having a free surface including a non-nucleus formation surface and a nucleus formation surface adjacent thereto. The non-nucleus formation surface has a low nucleation density. The nucleus formation surface has a sufficiently small area to allow growth of only the single nucleus and has a higher nucleation density that that of the non-nucleus formation surface.