Abstract: A shift register is provided with a shift register section composed of a plurality of stages of flip-flops that operate in synchronization with a clock signal, and level shifters for boosting a start signal lower than a driving voltage and for applying the same to both ends of the shift register section, and the shift register is capable of switching the shift direction in accordance with the switching signal. The foregoing level shifters are current-driving-type level shifters that can operate even in the case where the transistor characteristics are inferior or in the case of fast operations, and that can carry out level shifting even with a start signal having a small amplitude. Furthermore, the foregoing level shifters are provided at both ends of the shift register section, respectively, and one of the same stops operating in accordance with a switching signal, so that consumed power should decrease.

Abstract: There is provided an image processor for obtaining a correction curve used in a gradation correcting process smoothly and quickly. In the image processor, a curve storing section stores reference correction curves and a correction amount storing section stores correction amounts corresponding to a plurality of specified input density values. A halftone output gradation processing section calculates the correction value to the specified input density value by using the reference correction curve and the set of correction amounts in copying original and calculates a correction value to the remaining input density value by means of interpolation operation for moving one part of the reference correction curve in the direction parallel to the axis of density value and for expanding or compressing in that direction.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes one sheet roll wound with one end of a polishing sheet that is arranged to be in contact with the surface of a liquid crystal panel, and the other sheet roll for rolling up the polishing sheet from the other end. The substrate cleaning apparatus further includes a rotating unit provided with a motor, a belt, and a rotation shaft for rotating the polishing sheet and the pair of sheet rolls with respect to the liquid crystal panel. Thus, the substrate cleaning apparatus can be provided which is capable of reducing an operation time required for removing foreign matters, enhancing operation efficiency, stably and reliably removing foreign matters, and restraining operation time even if the size of the substrate increases.

Abstract: A solid imaging device including: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a layer of a second conductivity type formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate, the layer at least including a photosensitive portion of the second conductivity type; and a MOS transistor of the second conductivity type coupled to the photosensitive portion, wherein the solid imaging device further includes a layer of the first conductivity type in at least a channel region of the MOS transistor of the second conductivity type, the layer of the first conductivity type having an impurity concentration which is higher than an impurity concentration of the semiconductor substrate, and wherein at least a portion of a boundary of the layer of the second conductivity type is in direct contact with the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: When the paper size signal indicates small-sized paper, after the final sheet of a consecutive sheet feed operation of that size has passed through the heating device, paired rollers consisting of heat and pressing rollers are actuated to rotate for a predetermined period (rotational mode) while no sheet passes therethrough. After completion of the rotational mode, the paired rollers are stopped from rotating for a predetermined period (stationary mode).

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device using plastic substrates in which deformation such as warpage and distortion hardly occurs. The reflection type liquid crystal display device includes a light transmitting plastic substrate and a plastic substrate provided with a reflecting layer. The substrates are positioned facing each other to be kept fixed relative to each other with a predetermined space therebetween defined by spacers or the like. A liquid crystal layer is formed in the space between the substrates and sealed with a sealing agent. A polarizing plate along with an adhesive is attached to the outer surface of the light transmitting plastic substrate, and a polycarbonate substrate along with an adhesive is attached to the outer surface of the reflector-attached plastic substrate.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device has a first magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer, with the nonmagnetic layer being interposed between the first and second magnetic layers, the first and second magnetic layers having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Either the first magnetic layer or the second magnetic layer is made of a ferrimagnetic that has a compensation point around a room temperature.

Abstract: A method for forming an insulator film at a semiconductor temperature of 600° C. or less comprises the steps of forming a first insulator film by oxidizing a surface of a semiconductor in an atmosphere containing oxygen atom radicals, and forming a second insulator film on the first insulator film by deposition without exposing the first insulator film to outside air.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrier carrying a developer on its surface, a developer regulating member regulating layer thickness of the developer, a charge amount control member controlling the charge amount of the developer and a charge supplying apparatus downstream of the charge amount control member. The charge amount control member controls the amount of charges of the developer, by causing the developer fly over the developer carrier, using an AC voltage applied between the developer carrier and the charge amount control member, and by applying the electric charges generated by gas electrolytic dissociation caused by the AC voltage. By this structure, a developing apparatus can be provided which can improve stability of development and image quality, without necessitating delicate arrangement of the component materials of the developer.

Abstract: Beam shaping means may have a shaping ratio set to allow a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser and having an elliptic intensity distribution to have an ellipticity of no more than two to obtain a spot achieving high light availability and reduced in size. Furthermore, the shaping ratio can be set to no more than 2.5 to allow a polalized-beam splitter (light separation means) and other components to be arranged in a converged flux passing between the semiconductor laser and a collimator lens.

Abstract: A pierce nut having an inner cylindrical portion (2) provided centrally on an underside of a main nut body (1) and formed at an inner surface thereof with a female thread (3), an outer cylindrical portion (4) provided on a peripheral edge of an underside of the main nut body, and a recess (5) defined by an outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion and an inner surface of the outer cylindrical portion, characterized in that at least one passage (6) is provided to communicate between the recess and an outer surface of the pierce nut to enable flowing of a fluid.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium includes a magnetic storage medium that exhibits a magnetic compensation temperature specified higher than room temperature to minimize effects of heat generated by a head using magneto-resistance effect. In a heat assisted recording and reproduction method using such a magnetic storage medium, during reproduction, the S/N ratio in a reproduction signal is enhanced by optimizing the bias current applied to the head using magneto-resistance effect. A magnetic storage medium and a heat assisted recording and reproduction method using such a magnetic storage medium whereby information is magnetically recorded and reproduced by heating a read-out domain are offered that enables signal reproduction with a good S/N ratio despite possible use of a head exhibiting magneto-resistance effect.

Abstract: In a facsimile apparatus including numeric keys for entering dial numbers or abbreviated dial numbers, a transmission instruction key for instructing the processing for transmission, a storage unit for storing dial information and received information, a scanner which is removable from a main body of the apparatus having a reading and storing units, a scanner connecting unit for connecting said scanner to the main body of the apparatus and a printing unit for visually outputting an image data which is stored in said storing unit, the image data which is stored in the storing unit of the scanner is output only by mounting said scanner on a main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for driving a liquid crystal display device is provided.

Abstract: A recording-reproducing device includes a power control pattern generating circuit for generating a power control pattern to be used for control of a reproducing power of a semiconductor laser, a phase adjusting pattern generating circuit for adjusting a phase of a reproducing clock to be used upon reproduction of the power control pattern, a synchronous pattern generating circuit for generating a synchronous pattern to be recorded immediately before the phase adjusting pattern, and a recording data selecting circuit. The recording data selecting circuit consecutively selects an output of the phase adjusting pattern generating circuit, an output of the synchronous pattern generating circuit, and an output of the power control pattern generating circuit, and records these outputs in a front part of each sector of a magneto-optical disk.

Abstract: In the display device (10), at least one of a scanning line (2) and a signal line (3) is a multi-layer wiring including first and second conductive layers (3a, 3b), and the multi-layer wiring (3) includes a low-stacked region (3′) where the second conductive layer (3b) is not formed.

Abstract: A sampling circuit includes a first sample hold means having a sample hold switch whose one terminal receives an input signal and a sample hold capacitor whose one terminal is connected to the other terminal of the sample hold switch, an amplifier circuit whose input terminal is connected to the other terminal of the sample hold switch and a horizontal selection switch whose one terminal is connected to an output terminal of the amplifier circuit and the other terminal of which is connected to a horizontal signal line. The output terminal of the amplifier circuit is connected to one terminal of a conduction control switch, and a first constant current load is connected to the other terminal of the conduction control switch. The conduction control switch is turned on when the sample hold switch is on and the horizontal selection switch is off.

Abstract: A digital optical transmission apparatus includes a modulation portion for modulating data to be transmitted in an ASK modulation method, and an E/O modulation portion for converting an electrical signal output from the modulation portion into an optical signal having a base band component with a constant DC level. DC-biased or FSK-biased may be employed as a method of making constant the DC level of the base band component.

Abstract: A switching element is formed by sequentially depositing on an insulating substrate a gate electrode, a gate insulating film made of an inorganic insulating film, a semiconductor layer, a channel protecting layer, an n+Si layer that will form a source electrode and a drain electrode. Next, a metal layer and a transparent conductive film are formed on edges of the source electrode and the drain electrode. The insulating substrate on which the above films have been deposited is cleaned with vacuum ultraviolet light, before further depositing an interlayer insulating film and a pixel electrode. A substrate for use in a display element obtained in this manner exhibits an excellent adhesion strength between the film processed with vacuum ultraviolet light and a film adjacent to the film processed with vacuum ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes an electrode formed to continue from an inner surface in an ink chamber to a back end surface of a diaphragm through an inclined surface of the diaphragm. The inclined surface forms an angle greater than 90° with the inner surface in the ink chamber and forms an angle greater than 90° with the back end surface of the diaphragm. The electrode thus has a sufficient thickness on the corner portion formed by the inner surface in the ink chamber and the back end surface of the diaphragm. Accordingly, even if any component touches or hits the corner portion formed by the inner surface and the back end surface, in an assembly process of the ink-jet head, the electrode is prevented from being cut off and thus from being broken. In this way, the electrode can surely be connected electrically to a driving circuit.