Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device in which one mesa portion of two mesa portions in contact with a gate trench portion is an active mesa portion in which an emitter region of a first conductivity type having a doping concentration higher than that of a drift region is arranged in contact with the gate trench portion, the other mesa portion of two mesa portions in contact with the gate trench portion is a dummy mesa portion having no emitter region, and a dummy contact resistance which is a resistance of the dummy mesa portion and an emitter electrode is 1000 times or more as high as an active contact resistance which is a resistance of the active mesa portion and the emitter electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a glycoside of a flavonoid compound, which comprises the step of treating flavonoid and a glycosyl donor with an enzymatic agent having glycosylation activity and being derived from the genus Trichoderma (preferably Trichoderma viride or Trichoderma reesei). Such a flavonoid compound includes a catechin compound or a methylated derivative thereof, and the glycosyl donor includes a carbohydrate containing a maltotriose residue (preferably maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose, dextrin, ?-cyclodextrin or soluble starch). Glycosides obtained by the present invention have higher water solubility, improved taste, and increased stability. The present invention also provides novel glycosides of catechin compounds, which are obtained by the method of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and a polynucleotide encoding the same, for example, a polynucleotide comprising nucleotides 1 to 1359 of SEQ ID NO: 4, nucleotides 1 to 1365 of SEQ ID NO: 10, nucleotides 1 to 1371 of SEQ ID NO: 12, and nucleotides 1 to 1371 of SEQ ID NO: 22; or a polynucleotide encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11, 13 or 23. The invention provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase with a broad substrate specificity.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glycosyltransferase proteins produced by ascomycetous filamentous fungi (preferably species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, more preferably Trichoderma viride), as well as genes encoding the same. Among novel enzyme proteins provided by the present invention, particularly preferred is an enzyme protein obtained from the culture supernatant of Trichoderma viride strain IAM5141. The novel enzymes of the present invention allow glycosylation of flavonoid compounds to thereby improve their water solubility.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glycosyltransferase proteins produced by ascomycetous filamentous fungi (preferably species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, more preferably Trichoderma viride), as well as genes encoding the same. Among novel enzyme proteins provided by the present invention, particularly preferred is an enzyme protein obtained from the culture supernatant of Trichoderma viride strain IAM5141. The novel enzymes of the present invention allow glycosylation of flavonoid compounds to thereby improve their water solubility.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glycosyltransferase proteins produced by ascomycetous filamentous fungi (preferably species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, more preferably Trichoderma viride), as well as genes encoding the same. Among novel enzyme proteins provided by the present invention, particularly preferred is an enzyme protein obtained from the culture supernatant of Trichoderma viride strain IAM5141. The novel enzymes of the present invention allow glycosylation of flavonoid compounds to thereby improve their water solubility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and a polynucleotide encoding the same (for example, a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of one nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1359 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4, the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1365 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 10, the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1371 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12, and the nucleotide sequence at positions 1 to 1371 in the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 22; or a polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein having one amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 5, 11, 13 and 23), etc. This provides a novel UDP-glucuronosyltransferase with a broad substrate specificity.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel glycosyltransferase proteins produced by ascomycetous filamentous fungi (preferably species belonging to the genus Trichoderma, more preferably Trichoderma viride), as well as genes encoding the same. Among novel enzyme proteins provided by the present invention, particularly preferred is an enzyme protein obtained from the culture supernatant of Trichoderma viride strain IAM5141. The novel enzymes of the present invention allow glycosylation of flavonoid compounds to thereby improve their water solubility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a glycoside of a flavonoid compound, which comprises the step of treating flavonoid and a glycosyl donor with an enzymatic agent having glycosylation activity and being derived from the genus Trichoderma (preferably Trichoderma viride or Trichoderma reesei). Such a flavonoid compound includes a catechin compound or a methylated derivative thereof, and the glycosyl donor includes a carbohydrate containing a maltotriose residue (preferably maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose, dextrin, ?-cyclodextrin or soluble starch). Glycosides obtained by the present invention have higher water solubility, improved taste, and increased stability. The present invention also provides novel glycosides of catechin compounds, which are obtained by the method of the present invention.

Abstract: In a laser beam printer, automatic optical quantity (APC) control is performed based on an optical quantity detection output to generate a laser beam having a predetermined quantity of light. In each scanning cycle, APC is effected by utilizing a period (unblanking period) in which the laser device is forcibly actuated to generate a horizontal synchronization signal. The unblanking period may be changed according to the print paper size or image formation/non-image-formation periods. Also, light quantity control may be effected through a plurality of scanning cycles before image formation and may be effected by utilizing the unblanking period during the period corresponding to the intervals of print sheets. Techniques also provided to prevent a transfer unit from being contaminated by toner images formed as a byproduct of APC.

Abstract: An apparatus has a plurality of semiconductor cells as current switchings for driving a laser diode which exposes to light a photosensitive member so as to effect image recording. The semiconductor cells have each different characteristics, or same characteristics respectively. In response to the light amount signal corresponding to light quantity of the laser diode, a selector selects one or more of the semiconductor cells so as to supply a suitable driving current turned on or off later with an image signal. As a result, no fluctuations in the pulse duty ratio and the rise time are present in the entire driving current active range, thus improving the quality of a recorded image. The effect of selection by the selector is held for a certain recording time, whereby malfunction due to noises or the like can be avoided, and stable actions of the laser diode are ensured.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a fixing device for fixing an image formed on a recording medium, a device for detecting an operating environment of the image forming apparatus, a selecting device for selecting a fixing device temperature in accordance with a detection result, and a control device for controlling the temperature of the fixing device to a selected fixing device temperature. The image forming apparatus is capable of efficiently bringing out the functions of a print engine thereof at a minimum cost without the need for adding a new high-speed device, achieving a higher printing speed and ensuring a good fixing property regardless of the thickness of paper used, while preventing wasteful energy consumption and adverse influences by heat.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which converts character or pattern information into bit map information (pixel information) and forms an image based thereon. The image forming apparatus includes a light-beam generator for generating a modulated light beam, a light-beam deflector for scanning an image carrier, a device for feeding a sheet to registration rollers and a driver for driving the image carrier. A time period is provided to operate the light-beam deflector and the feeding device before the driver starts to drive the image carrier to form an image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises image information which outputs a sync signal and means generated image information synchronously with the sync signal; image forming means form an image on the basis of the image information at either one of a plurality of resolutions and which generates a sync request signal to request a transmission of the sync signal; and a resolution changeover means. When the image forming unit received the resolution change over request signal before the sync request signal is generated, the image forming unit executes the switching operation of the resolution, and if the image forming unit received the resolution changeover request signal after the sync request signal had been generated, the image forming unit does not execute the switching operation of the resolution.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeder means and a recorder. The feeder feeds a sheet of recording paper to a predetermined position in response to a spare paper feed signal instructing the feeding of the sheet of recording paper to the predetermined position preliminarily, and then feeds the sheet of recording paper being stopped at the predetermined position again in response to a record request signal. The recorder records an image on the sheet of recording paper fed by the feeder means through an electrophotographic process. The recorder means starts preparation to execute the electrophotographic process upon receiving the spare paper feed signal. As a result throughput is increased without causing other problems.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for adjusting image density includes an input device for inputting a plurality of image type information and a discriminating device for discriminating the image type information in accordance with a signal other than a signal to be recorded. An image forming circuit, such as a printer, forms an image on the basis of image type information. A density adjusting circuit adjusts the image forming density of the image forming circuit in accordance with the input image type information. The discriminating device inputs a signal indicative of whether the input image type information indicates a text image or a graphics image, or whether it denotes Japanese or a European language (e.g., English). The discriminating device also inputs a signal indicative of the kind of font included in the input image type information or a signal indicative of a resolution for an output image to be formed by the printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which can adjust a density comprises: a first input device to input image information; a second input device to input the kind of image information; an image forming circuit such as a printer form an image on the basis of image information which can vary an image forming density; and a density adjusting circuit to adjust the image forming density of the image forming circuit in accordance with the kind of input image information. The second input device inputs a signal indicative of whether the input image information indicates a text image or a graphics image or whether it denotes Japanese or European/English language. The second input device inputs a signal indicative of the kind of font included in the input image information or a signal indicative of a resolution of an output image which is formed by the printer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises image information which outputs a sync signal and generated image information synchronously with the sync signal; an image forming apparatus forms an image on the basis of the image information at either one of a plurality of resolutions and which generates a sync request signal to request a transmission of the sync signal; and a resolution changeover means.When the image forming unit received the resolution change over request signal before the sync request signal is generated, the image forming unit executes the switching operation of the resolution, and if the image forming unit received the resolution changeover request signal after the sync request signal had been generated, the image forming unit does not execute the switching operation of the resolution.

Abstract: In a laser beam printer, automatic optical quantity (APC) control is performed based on an optical quantity detection output to generate a laser beam having a predetermined quantity of light. In each scanning cycle, APC is effected by utilizing a period (unblanking period) in which the laser device is forcibly actuated to generate a horizontal synchronization signal. The unblanking period may be changed according to the print paper size or image formation/non-image-formation periods. Also, light quantity control may be effected through a plurality of scanning cycles before image formation and may be effected by utilizing the unblanking period during the period corresponding to the intervals of print sheets. Techniques also provided to prevent a transfer unit from being contaminated by toner images formed as a byproduct of APC.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a data receiver for receiving encoded character or graphic information in the unit of a page from the outside; a pixel converter for converting the encoded character or graphic information into pixel information; an image forming device for forming an image on a recording medium based on the pixel information; and a feeder for feeding the recording medium to said image forming device. In the apparatus, the feeder is adapted to feed the recording medium to a predetermined position prior to the completion of pixel conversion of a page by the pixel converter.