Abstract: A post-processing method involves using a standby tray to receive a paper sheet to be supplied from a digital copier, a processing tray to receive a paper sheet dropped from a standby tray, a feed member which guides the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray in the feeding direction to a processing tray, and scrapes and sends the rear end of a paper sheet dropped onto a processing tray to a stopper, a press member which clamps the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray by cooperating with two feed members, and a stapler to staple the aligned rear ends of paper sheets. When a first paper sheet is supplied to the standby tray, the press member presses the rear end of the first paper sheet, to receive a second paper.

Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to first and second locking portions of a mounting portion of an apparatus. The liquid container includes a casing for containing liquid and a supply port for supplying the liquid to an ink jet head. At respective first and second sides of the casing, first and second engaging portions are provided, respectively engageable with the first and second locking portions. A supporting member displaceably supports the second engaging portion, and a contact is contactable to a member provided in the mounting portion to permit of display information relating to the liquid container. The supply port is disposed in a third side of the casing which is between the first and second sides, and the contact is disposed at a corner region between the second and third sides.

Abstract: A white light emitting device includes a semiconductor light emitting element that has a peak of an emission spectrum in a range of 370 nm to 480 nm, and at least one kind of phosphor that is excited by light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element to emit visible light. The phosphor is represented by the formula: Sr1-x-yBaxSi2O2N2:Eu2+y, wherein x is in the range of 0.3<x<1.0, y is in the range of 0.03<y<0.3, and x+y is in the range of x+y<1.0, and a vehicle lamp using the while light emitting device.

Abstract: This DC-DC converter circuit includes: first and second switching elements (S1, S2); an output transformer (T) that includes a first primary winding (P1) connected in series between the positive electrode sides of the first and second switching elements (S1, S2), a second primary winding (P2) connected in series between their negative electrode sides, a secondary winding (S) for obtaining an output voltage, and tertiary windings (n3, n4); a first voltage source (C1), connected between a first connection point at which the first primary winding (P1) is connected to the second switching element (S2) and the first switching element (S1), that applies a voltage to the first switching element via the first primary winding; a second voltage source (C2) connected to locations symmetric with those of the first voltage source (C1); and a control unit (CT) that turns the first and second switching elements (S1, S2) alternatingly ON and OFF, and first and second regeneration snubber circuits (SN1, SN2) for regenerating

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of highly detailed patterning using a resist pattern having smoothed wall surfaces and reduced roughness. The method includes the steps of: forming a resist pattern over a base layer; applying a resist pattern smoothing material onto a surface of the resist pattern, thereafter heating and developing; and etching the base layer using the smoothed resist pattern, wherein one of an application thickness and a heat temperature is adjusted so as to smooth at least wall surfaces of the resist pattern. Aspects in which a maximum opening dimension and a minimum opening dimension of the smoothed resist pattern are ±5% of a predetermined opening dimension D (nm), and an average opening dimension Dav. (nm) of the smoothed resist pattern satisfies Dav. (nm)?D (nm)×(90/100), are preferable.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing method includes exposing on a photoresist film a first partial pattern of a contact hole, overlapping a part of a gate interconnection in alignment with an alignment mark formed simultaneously with forming the gate interconnection, exposing on the photoresist film a second partial pattern, overlapping a part of an active region in alignment with an alignment mark formed simultaneously with forming the active region, developing the photoresist film to form an opening at the portion where the first partial pattern and the second partial pattern have been exposed, and etching an insulation film to form a contact hole down to the gate interconnection and the source/drain diffused layer.

Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus, the liquid container including a casing defining a liquid containing chamber, an electrical contact, a light emitter, a display portion for directing emitted light to an outside of the liquid container, and an information storing portion for storing information relating to the liquid container. First and second engaging portions are engageable with respective first and second locking portions of the mounting portion, and are disposed at opposite first and second sides of the casing. A latch lever displaceably supports the second engaging portion away from the second side. A supply port is provided on a third side of the casing between the first and second sides, the electrical contact is disposed at a corner between the second and third sides, and the display portion is disposed adjacent an upper portion of the second side.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes a conveying mechanism, a first image forming unit and a coloring conversion mechanism. The conveying mechanism conveys a medium. The first image forming unit forms an image on the medium with a temperature-sensitive ink whose color changes depending on temperature. The coloring conversion mechanism converts a coloring state of the image with the temperature-sensitive ink by heating or cooling the image with the temperature-sensitive ink.

Abstract: An ink remaining amount detection module, mountable to an ink container, for detection of an ink remaining amount in an ink container for ink jet recording, the ink remaining amount detection module, includes a support substrate; at least one detection electrode provided on one side of the support substrate; and readable and writable non-volatile information storing means provided on the one side of the support substrate; and information transmitting means, provided on the support substrate, for transmitting, to an outside, information relating to an ink remaining amount which is provided depending on whether the detection electrode is contacted to ink, and for receiving, from an outside, information to be written in the information storing element.

Abstract: A bullet type light emitting diode lamp or a chip-type light emitting diode lamp includes a semiconductor light emitting element, and a plurality of fluorescent materials that absorb part or whole of light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element, and emit fluorescence at a wavelength different from that of the absorbed light. The fluorescent materials include a phosphor of a CaAlSiN3 crystalline phase.

Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet printer including an information storing portion for storing information relating to the liquid container; a controller controls light emission of a light emitting portion, based on individual information corresponding to the ink container, supplied through a container contact from a printer contact, and the discrimination information stored in the memory; a light guide member having a light incident portion and a light emergence portion, the light guide member configured to guide the light entered from the light incident portion to the light emergence portion so as to cause a light receptor to receive the light emerged from the light emergence portion to obtain light reception information used for discriminating properness of position of the ink container mounted in the mounting portion.

Abstract: A printer includes a loading unit configured to load a first printing medium including IC tags, which are data-readable/writable by wireless connection, and a printing surface formed on one side of the first printing medium. A conveying unit of the printer conveys the first printing medium, which is being drawn from the loader, along a conveyance path. A wireless reader/writer of the printer is configured to read/write data from/on the IC tags by wireless data communication between the IC tags provided in the first printing medium in the course of conveying the first printing medium. A control unit of the printer, at a point of time when printing on the first printing medium is completed, controls the wireless reader/writer to write information on the number of printing media printed on an IC tag included in a second printing medium subsequent to the first printing medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a printer includes a thermal head, a platen roller, and an urging mechanism configured to urge the thermal head against the platen roller. The printer further includes a first separation mechanism configured to move the thermal head from a proximal position where the thermal head is placed adjacent to the platen roller, to a first separation position where the thermal head is placed farther away from the platen roller than the proximal position, and a second separation mechanism configured to move the thermal head from the proximal position to a second separation position where the thermal head is placed farther away from the platen roller than the proximal position and placed closer to the platen roller than the first separation position. The printer further includes an electric-powered actuator having a movable member configured to reciprocate along a lengthwise direction of the printing medium.

Abstract: To provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which the method is capable of efficient mass production of high-performance semiconductor devices by, upon manufacture of a semiconductor device, eliminating unwanted features (e.g., side lobes) created together with a resist pattern by thickening the resist pattern, to reduce the burden in designing photomasks and to increase depth of focus. The method of the present invention for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes at least: forming a resist pattern on a work surface and applying over a surface of the resist pattern a resist pattern thickening material to thereby thicken the resist pattern to eliminate an unwanted feature created together with the resist pattern.

Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus, and which includes a liquid chamber, a light emitter, an electrical contact which receives a signal for light emission by the light emitter, and a display portion which directs emitted light from the light emitter toward an outside of the liquid container. A latch lever is elastically deformable and has a latching portion spaced from a first side of the liquid container, the first side being between the latching portion and the liquid chamber. A liquid supply port is disposed at a second side of the liquid container. The electrical contact is disposed at a position which is between the latching portion and the liquid supply port as seen facing both of the first and second sides, and the display portion is disposed adjacent to an upper portion, in use, of the first side.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ink tank capable of inhibiting penetration of a gas even in an ink storage section made of a resin, having such a flexibility as to easily apply a negative pressure to ink, having an excellent resource protective property and applicable even to a small and inexpensive ink jet recording device having a large degree of freedom in design. In the ink tank for the ink jet recording device having the ink storage section made of a plastic, the ink storage section has a coating layer including a liquid retaining member capable of retaining ink on an inner surface or an outer surface thereof. The liquid retaining member can include a foam material, a fiber material or a gel-like substance. In the ink storage section, the liquid retaining member included in the coating layer including the liquid retaining member capable of retaining the ink on the outer surface thereof includes a moisture adsorbent which adsorbs a moisture.

Abstract: Exposure apparatus are disclosed that can control, to high precision, exposure doses on a photosensitive substrate of a mask pattern defined on a reflective mask as the pattern is being exposed on the substrate using a projection-optical system. An exemplary apparatus includes a first illumination sensor for detecting light that is incident on a reflective mask from an illumination system and a second illumination sensor for detecting light that has propagated from the illumination system to a reference reflective surface on the reflective mask, reflected from the reference reflective surface, and arrived at an image surface of the projection-optical system. Calibration of the first sensor is performed based on detection data obtained by the first sensor and detection data obtained by the second sensor. Exposure of the substrate is controlled based on the detection data obtained by the calibrated first sensor.

Abstract: A reticle transport apparatus transports a reticle to and from a processing atmosphere. A reticle loader loads the reticle into the processing atmosphere, with at least a portion of the reticle being covered by a cover. A cover manipulator, in the processing atmosphere, removes the reticle from the cover and transfers the cover, without the removed reticle, to the reticle loader, and the reticle loader unloads the cover from the processing atmosphere. A cover cleaner, outside of the processing atmosphere, cleans the cover. When processing involving the reticle is completed, the reticle is returned to the cleaned cover or is placed in a different cover.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus includes an evacuatable vacuum chamber, a substrate holder which is provided in the vacuum chamber, has a substrate chuck surface vertically facing down, and includes an electrostatic chuck mechanism which electrostatically chucks a substrate, a substrate support member which is provided in the vacuum chamber to keep the substrate parallel to the substrate chuck surface and support the substrate in an orientation that allows the substrate chuck surface to chuck the substrate, and a moving mechanism which moves at least one of the substrate holder and the substrate supported by the substrate support member so as to bring the substrate and the substrate holder into contact with each other, thereby causing the substrate holder to chuck the substrate.

Abstract: A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet recording apparatus, the liquid container includes a casing defining a liquid containing chamber; a supply port, provided in the casing, for supplying liquid contained therein to an ink jet head; a first engaging portion engageable with a first locking portion provided in the mounting portion, the first engaging portion being disposed on one side of the casing; a second engaging portion engageable with a second locking portion provided in the mounting portion, the second engaging portion being disposed opposed to another side of the casing, the another side being opposite the one side; a supporting portion for displaceably supporting the second engaging portion; an information storing portion for storing information relating to the liquid container; a contact electrically connectable with a contact provided in the mounting portion; a light emitting portion; a display portion for directing the light emitted from the emitting portion to