Abstract: A display device is arranged such that a voice device is laminated on a liquid crystal panel so as to be confined in a planar area of the liquid crystal panel, and a voice-system circuit block which drives the voice device is formed on the thin film substrate of the liquid crystal panel. A signal is inputted into the voice-system circuit block through an FPC which is connected to the thin film substrate and which inputs a video signal, and the signal processed at the voice-system circuit block is conducted through the FPC. A connecting terminal part is provided in a middle portion of the FPC and adhered to an FPC. One end of the FPC is connected to the voice device. In this way, a multifunctional display device can be achieved at low cost by efficiently using a limited space around the display element without sacrificing the advantages of a lightweight and thin-shaped flat display device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer; first and second electrodes arranged on one surface of first and second substrates to face the liquid crystal layer; and first and second alignment films arranged on the first and second electrodes, respectively, in contact with the liquid crystal layer. The first alignment film has been subjected to an optical alignment treatment by obliquely irradiating a first alignment film material, having a photosensitive wavelength within the wavelength range of 250 nm to 380 nm, with light including the photosensitive wavelength. The device further includes: a metal layer arranged between the first alignment film and the first substrate; and a first resin layer arranged between the metal layer and the first alignment film.

Abstract: A color filter layer includes a first region and a second region, wherein the number of times that light used for display is transmitted through the color filter layer is different between the first region and the second region.

Abstract: A display device displays images with a plurality of signal lines and includes spare lines, each being arranged to be connectable to the signal lines so as to be used for recovery of the signal lines from disconnection. Each of the spare lines has constricted sections for cutting. With this arrangement, it is possible to easily and properly recover the signal lines from disconnection.

Abstract: A backlight is provided for a direct-view display. The backlight comprises a plurality of discrete light sources (11), such as light emitting diodes, spaced from a diffuser (5). The light sources are arranged as sets cooperating with a mirror structure (101), which surrounds the set to form a region. The regions substantially tessellate the area of the backlight. Each mirror structure (101) comprises a plurality of mirror segments which are curved and concave in cross-section perpendicular to the diffuser (5). The mirror segments extend from around the light sources (11) towards the diffuser (5). The edges of adjacent mirror segments of adjacent regions meet at a meeting line such that all of the meeting lines are at the diffuser (5) or between the diffuser (5) and the light sources (11).

Abstract: A display is backlit by a source having spatially modulated luminance to attenuate illumination of dark areas of images and increase the dynamic range of the display.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image according to the present invention includes a coverage rate finder, a developing unit, and a control unit. The coverage rate finder finds the coverage rate of the image. The developing unit holds developer in it and includes a stirring means for stirring the held developer at a stirring speed. The developing unit supplies the stirred developer to a surface of an image carrier. When the apparatus forms the image consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit changes the stirring speed in proportion to the coverage rate. When the apparatus forms an image with a higher coverage rate consecutively on sheets of paper, the control unit makes the stirring speed higher.

Abstract: A small domain generation section generates a plurality of small domains in a multi-valued image transmitted from an intermediate tone correction section. Each domain is constituted of a plurality of pixels. Counting means counts a signal input value of each pixel. Weighting calculation means corrects each signal input value of the “pixels subjection to toner quantity equivalent value calculation” with reference to the signal input value of the small domain, and reads out a weighting coefficient from the weighting coefficient table based on the modified signal input value. The weighting calculation means multiplies the signal input value by the coefficient so as to convert the signal input value into a toner quantity equivalent value. Accumulating means calculates toner quantity equivalent values for all of the pixels of the multi-valued image.

Abstract: Based on the type of sheet and the detection result of double feed, carrying a sheet is stopped. Carrying of a predetermined type of sheet is not stopped even when double feed is detected. The predetermined type of sheet is a sheet having air space inside thereof (an envelope, an OHP sheet, Kent paper, or the like).

Abstract: A toner container of the present invention includes a cylindrical portion containing toner used in an electrophotographic type complex machine. When the cylindrical portion is driven to rotate, the toner gets out via an outlet thereof. The cylindrical portion of the toner container has an inner wall provided with a coat layer containing fluorine-containing silica fine particles, which are obtained by modifying a property of the surfaces of silica fine particles by using a fluorine-based silane coupling agent. This coat layer effectively prevents the toner from being adhered to the inner wall of the toner container.

Abstract: A data distribution system includes a plurality of data sources each capable of transmitting a data item, and a data vending machine capable of receiving the data item from the plurality of data sources and selling the received data item to a user. The data vending machine includes a data selecting apparatus operated by a user to select a desired data item, a data source selecting apparatus connected to the data selecting apparatus for selecting, among the plurality of data sources, one that holds the data item selected by the data selecting apparatus, in accordance with a specific standard, a data receiving apparatus connected to the data source selecting apparatus for receiving selected data item from the data source selected by the data source selecting apparatus, and a data updating apparatus to which an external storage device is detachably mounted, for writing the data item received by the data receiving apparatus to the external storage device.

Abstract: A CPU of a printing apparatus stores print data that is output from an output apparatus in a storage portion, and waits for the print switch on an operation panel to be operated before printing. If the print data pertaining to printing is administrative-use print data for which the output result is to be provided to a store clerk only once, then the CPU deletes the print data from the storage portion after printing. If the print data pertaining to printing is service-use print data for which the output result is to be repeatedly provided to customers, then the CPU continuously stores the print data in the storage portion after printing.

Abstract: A toner supply device includes: a toner supply assembly having a toner bottle for holding toner; and a toner supply assembly mounting mechanism having the toner bottle mounted, for feeding toner supplied from the toner bottle to a developing unit. In this toner supply device, toner supplied from the toner supply assembly is fed to the developing unit after it being agitated. The toner supply assembly mounting mechanism includes: guide rails for guiding the toner supply assembly when it is mounted; and a stopper for positioning and holding the toner supply assembly. The toner supply assembly has an abutment surface which is guided by the guide rails and positioned and held by the stopper.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus with a plurality of laser diodes that form color-component images, which correspond to a plurality of color components, onto a plurality of corresponding photosensitive drums respectively, and a transfer belt onto which the color-component images that are formed on the respective photosensitive drums are transferred. The image formation apparatus adjusts the image formation timing based on the positions of the color-component images that are transferred to the transfer belt; and when adjusting the image formation timing, the respective laser diodes form color-component images at formation intervals that correspond to an integral multiple of the period of a periodic noise.

Abstract: A floating body germanium (Ge) phototransistor and associated fabrication process are presented. The method includes: providing a silicon (Si) substrate; selectively forming an insulator layer overlying the Si substrate; forming an epitaxial Ge layer overlying the insulator layer using a liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) process; forming a channel region in the Ge layer; forming a gate dielectric, gate electrode, and gate spacers overlying the channel region; and, forming source/drain regions in the Ge layer. The LPE process involves encapsulating the Ge with materials having a melting temperature greater than a first temperature, and melting the Ge using a temperature lower than the first temperature. The LPE process includes: forming a dielectric layer overlying deposited Ge; melting the Ge; and, in response to cooling the Ge, laterally propagating an epitaxial growth front into the Ge from an underlying Si substrate surface.

Abstract: A constant voltage output circuit has an output power transistor supplied with electric power form a first input power source and a control circuit supplied with electric power from a second input power source. Here, when the voltage from the first input power source is equal to or higher than a predetermined level Va, an overcurrent protection circuit and a short-circuiting protection circuit operate. Furthermore, yet another protection circuit is provided that operates even when the voltage from the first input power source is lower than the predetermined level Va.

Abstract: An electronic element wafer module is provided, in which a transparent support substrate is disposed facing a plurality of electronic elements formed on a wafer and a plurality of wafer-shaped optical elements are disposed on the transparent support substrate, where a groove is formed along a dicing line between the adjacent electronic elements, penetrating from the optical elements through the transparent support substrate, with a depth reaching a surface of the wafer or with a depth short of the surface of the wafer; and a light shielding material is applied on side surfaces and a bottom surface of the groove or is filled in the groove, and the light shielding material is applied or formed on a peripheral portion of a surface of the optical element, except for on a light opening in a center of the surface.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus 100 of the present invention includes a transparent cover section 24 which is provided so as to be spaced from a lens section, the transparent cover section 24 being provided (i) so as to face a light-receiving section of a solid-state image sensing device 22 and (ii) so as to have a gap between the solid-state image sensing device 22 and the transparent cover section 24. Furthermore, the transparent cover section 24 is provided with a positioning mark which serves as a reference for positioning the lens section in consideration of the solid-state image sensing device 22. Consequently, it is possible to provide a shock-resistant solid-state image pickup apparatus in which a lens section and an image pickup section are positionally aligned with high accuracy.

Abstract: A camera module 1 of the present invention includes a moving magnet type mechanical shutter 2 and a lens unit 3 (lens drive section) for driving a lens by electromagnetic force. A magnetic field for driving the lens is set so that a light path is closed by a shutter fin while a magnetic field leaked from the lens unit 3 is acting on a drive mechanism of the mechanical shutter 2. With the configuration, the leak magnetic field leaked from the lens unit 3 causes the light path to be closed at a faster speed by the shutter fin of the mechanical shutter 2. Accordingly, generation of a smear can be prevented by the camera module including the lens drive section and the moving magnet type mechanical shutter, which are driven by the electromagnetic force.

Abstract: A detection instrument of the present invention includes: a flow path through which a sample to be examined flows, the flow path having a plurality of detection areas in each of which a target substance in the sample is detected, the plurality of detection areas respectively including detection sections and immobilizing sections each of which immobilizes an antibody, and the plurality of detection areas being separated by bulbs. As such, it is possible to provide a detection instrument which can detect plural kinds of target substances in a single flow path.