Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source provided with converting structure for converting an advancing direction of light emitted from the light source, whereby a direction in which the light source is disposed can be determined regardless of a direction in which light is emitted. The advancing direction of the light emitted from a light emitting element is converted into a direction in which light transmitting structure can transmit the light, so that a luminous intensity on a photosensitive drum can be increased. The light source is designed so as to increase a light emitting area of the light emitting element and condense light emitted therefrom. The light emitting element utilizes a flat luminous unit, which is combined with a light transmitting structure in one optical piece.

Abstract: With a conventional organic light emitting element, the pixel formation accuracy is controlled by the pattern formation accuracy of an electrode provided on the top surface of an organic layer. Since this electrode pattern must be formed after an organic layer is formed, only the vapor deposition method with low pattern formation accuracy is available. It makes it difficult to form homogenous and fine pixels. In a production method of an organic light emitting element in this invention, after forming a first electrode composed of a transparent electrode and a metal layer, an organic layer coats the transparent electrodes exposed by removing those portions of a metal layer corresponding to pixels, a second electrode is formed on the organic layer. In this method, the pixel formation accuracy depends on only a metal layer removing accuracy. Since the metal layer is removed before the organic layer is formed, the photolithographic technique can be applied to enable homogeneous and fine pixels to be formed.

Abstract: A light source for an image writing apparatus which can reduce the number of units without sacrifice in sufficient accuracy, and does not need an accurate alignment, and production method for the light source. The light source for the image writing apparatus forms an image by light emitted from light emitting elements provided on a specific substrate onto a photosensitive drum, wherein light emitting elements are disposed in a zigzag manner on one sheet of the substrate.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source provided with a converting means for converting the advancing direction of light emitted from the light source, whereby the direction in which the light source is disposed can be determined regardless of a direction in which light is emitted. The advancing direction of the light emitted from a light emitting element is converted into a direction in which the light transmitting means can transmit the light, so that the luminous intensity on the photosensitive drum can be increased. It is designed so as to increase a light emitting area of the light emitting element and condense the light emitted therefrom, in result the luminous flux density can be improved. The light emitting element applies a flat luminous unit, which is combined with a light transmitting means in one optical piece.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent (OEL) element includes a scanning electrode and a signal electrode, which crosses the scanning electrode at right angles, on a substrate. The signal electrodes are formed of N-layer electrodes laminated like steps, where respective layers are insulated from each other. The scanning electrodes are formed on the signal electrodes via an organic thin film layer. As a result, a display area is divided into sections corresponding to laminated numbers, and the divided each section is scanned independently. A duty ratio for driving the OEL element becomes large and less power consumption thus can be expected.

Abstract: A light source includes a light emitting unit including a light emitting layer for electrically emitting a light, and a waveguide for emitting a light irradiated from the light emitting unit into air through a light take-out surface formed on an end face, wherein an area of the light take-out surface of the waveguide is set to be smaller than that of the light emitting layer. Thus, the light irradiated from the light emitting layer is emitted through the light take-out surface of the waveguide. Therefore, it is possible to freely determine the size of the light source by the size of the light take-out surface of the waveguide. Consequently, it is possible to easily obtain a very small light source.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent (OEL) element includes a scanning electrode and a signal electrode, which crosses the scanning electrode at right angles, on a substrate. The signal electrodes are formed of N-layer electrodes laminated like steps, where respective layers are insulated from each other. The scanning electrodes are formed on the signal electrodes via an organic thin film layer. As a result, a display area is divided into sections corresponding to laminated numbers, and the divided each section is scanned independently. A duty ratio for driving the OEL element becomes large and less power consumption thus can be expected.

Abstract: The invention presents an organic electroluminescence element excellent in long-term durability and reliability, a manufacturing method excellent in mass producibility, and a display device using the organic electroluminescence element. Accordingly, to prevent growth of dark spots in the luminous layer by completely shutting off invasion of moisture or oxygen into an anode or an organic thin film layer, a shield material is adhered to an element by using low melting glass or low melting solder. To fuse the low melting glass or low melting solder used for this purposes, laser or ultrasonic wave is used. The surface of the element is sealed with a protective film in a film thickness of 3 microns to 30 microns, or a protective film composed of two-layer laminate film of insulating compound layer andmetal film. According to these inventions, a highly reliable organic electroluminescence element small in changes in the time course suchas growth of dark sports and lowering of luminance is obtained.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive magnetic head comprising a magnetoresistive film, a pair of hard magnetic material films disposed on the magnetoresistive film, and a pair of leads disposed on the magnetoresistive film for feeding a sense current to the magnetoresistive film, wherein at least a part of each lead is formed between the pair of hard magnetic material films on the magnetoresistive film. According to this construction, generation of unstable magnetization at both ends of the track portion can be suppressed, so that a large reproduction output may be obtained.