Abstract: A heater includes a base plate, and a resistor, extending in a longitudinal direction of the base plate, for generating heat when a power supply is applied thereto. A recess, such as a hole or groove, is formed in the base plate in a longitudinal portion of the resistor, to bias the base plate to break at the longitudinal portion and to open a circuit including the power supply and the resistor, to safely prevent overheating or smoking of the heater.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charger for charging an image bearing member. The charger includes a charging member contacted to the image bearing member and supplied with a voltage. The charger functions both as discharging device and charging device by switching a voltage applied thereto. The apparatus is made smaller, simpler and less expensive in cost.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a heating member; a temperature detecting member for detecting the temperature of the heating member; a power supply controller for controlling the power supply to the heating member so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting element during a fixing operation is maintained substantially constant at a predetermined fixing temperature; and a temperature selecting device for selecting a fixing temperature in response to both the temperature of the heating member before beginning of the fixing temperature control and a rate of the temperature change of the heating member upon supplying a predetermined amount of power to the heating member or upon turning it off.

Abstract: A ring-shaped emitter region is formed either in a region a little toward an inner periphery or in a region a little toward an outer periphery in an upper layer portion of a ring-shaped base region of a bipolar transistor. A conductive layer is laminated through an insulating layer in a region surrounded by the ring-shaped emitter region provided a little toward the inner periphery of the base region, a conductive side wall is formed on the sides of the conductive layer and the insulating layer, and the ring-shaped emitter region and the conductive layer are connected through the conductive side wall. A metallic emitter electrode is connected to the conductive layer.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the heater; electric power supply controller for controlling electric power supply to the heater during image heating, so that the temperature detector detects a predetermined set temperature; and a temperature determining device for determining the set temperature on the basis of a change of the temperature detected by the temperature detector when electric power supply to the heater is stopped.

Abstract: An image heating device which includes a heater; a temperature detecting element to detect a temperature of the heater; and a controller for controlling power supply to the heater, so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member is maintained at a predetermined temperature, and the controller controls the power supply to the heater, based on a rising speed of the temperature detected during a period from the time when the power supply to the heater is started till the time when the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: Semiconductor-device fabricating steps include the steps of forming a first conducting film serving as an electrode on a substratum semiconductor layer through an insulating film, forming an opening in partial regions of the first conducting film and the insulating film, and thereafter forming a second conducting film for connecting the first conducting film with the substratum semiconductor layer on the inner periphery or in the vicinity of the opening, then forming a second electrode in the opening through an insulating side wall, moreover patterning the first conducting film before selectively etching and removing the insulating film under the first conducting film, and thereby forming a space between the first conducting film and the substratum semiconductor layer.

Abstract: An elastic roller includes a conductive base; an elastic layer on the conductive base; a surface parting layer on the elastic layer, the surface parting layer having a surface resistance of not less than 10.sup.10 ohm; wherein the elastic layer has a volume resistivity of not more than 10.sup.7 ohm.cm.

Abstract: A charging device contactable to a member in order to charge it electrically. The voltage of the charging member includes an AC component. A controller controls the AC component so as to be a constant current, by which the member to be charged can be stably and uniformly charged even if ambient conditions change.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first electrode buried in one main face of a substrate and surrounded by a first insulator, a field oxide film covering the surface of the first electrode, a semiconductor layer connected with the first electrode, a second insulator covering the surface of the semiconductor layer, a second electrode connected with the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode connected with the semiconductor layer between the second insulator and the field oxide film, and an outgoing electrode connected with the first electrode.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater; a temperature detecting member for detecting a temperature of the heater; the controller for controlling electric power supplied to the heater so that the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member is maintained at a predetermined temperature; comparing device for comparing the temperature detected by the temperature detecting member to the reference temperature; wherein, when the detected temperature remains to be no less than the reference temperature for a predetermined period of time, the controller reduces a duty ratio of the electric power to be supplied to the heater.

Abstract: Information code for conveying devices on which an item to be processed is placed has the data of the same item to be processed stored as a set in a memory. The information code inputted into a register undergoes tracking corresponding to the conveyance of the item to be processed. Accordingly, by referring to the identification code in the register and the contents of the memory, it is possible to know the data relating to an item to be processed and the position thereof.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having a reduced parasitic capacitance while having a maximum acceptable current similar to those of prior devices, and a method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The inventive device has a hole at the bottom of which an insulating film separated from the hole walls is located, a semiconductor film being present in the hole, which is connected to the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the insulating film and a conductor film constituting a portion of the hole wall, and extends onto the insulating film so as to cover at least part of the film.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes a heater and a film movable together with a recording material carrying an image so that the image on the recording material is heated by heat from the heater through the film. A guiding member guides a surface of the film that contacts the heater, and the guiding member has a surface with projections effective to reduce a contact area between the guiding surface and the film. In addition, a lubricant is supplied between the guiding surface and the film so as to reduce frictional contact.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having a reduced parasitic capacitance while having a maximum acceptable current similar to those of prior devices, and a method of manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The inventive device has a hole at the bottom of which an insulating film separated from the hole walls is located, a semiconductor film being present in the hole, which is connected to the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the insulating film and a conductor film constituting a portion of the hole wall, and extends onto the insulating film so as to cover at least part of the film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixing apparatus having a pair of rotary members for pinching and conveying a supporting material bearing a non-fixed toner image thereon, thereby fixing the non-fixed toner image on the supporting material and wherein a rectifier element is connected to at least one of the rotary members in a predetermined orientation, whereby the present invention prevent a toner offset that the toner on the supporting material is adhered to the rotary members.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a read unit for reading image information from an original text, a detection unit for detecting position information of the image information, and a conversion unit for converting the position information in accordance with the output of the detection unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor resistance element of one electrical conduction type comprises: a semiconductor region including a first impurity of opposite electrical conduction type and second impurity of one electrical conduction type, wherein said second impurity is more heavily introduced so that a predetermined resistance is obtained; and electrode regions provided on both ends of said semiconductor region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a first electrode buried in one main face of a substrate and surrounded by a first insulator, a field oxide film covering the surface of the first electrode, a semiconductor layer connected with the first electrode, a second insulator covering the surface of the semiconductor layer, a second electrode connected with the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode connected with the semiconductor layer between the second insulator and the field oxide film, and an outgoing electrode connected with the first electrode.

Abstract: A charging device for contact-charging a member to be charged. A charging device for charging a movable member to be charged includes a contacting member adapted to contacting the member to be charged, and means for forming a vibratory electric field between the member to be charged and the contacting member, the vibratory electric field forming means applying between the members a vibratory voltage having a peak-to-peak value not less than twice an absolute value of a charge starting voltage to the member to be charged. The member to be charged can be uniformly charged.