Abstract: A printer is provided that includes a printing unit, a detector that outputs a detection signal corresponding to one of a remaining amount of coloring agent and a consumed amount of coloring agent, and a controller configured to perform a switching process. In the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that a usable amount of coloring agent is more than a first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a normal printing operation to print an original image based on image data. Meanwhile, in the switching process, when determining, based on the detection signal, that the usable amount of coloring agent is equal to or less than the first reference value, the controller controls the printing unit to perform a show-through cancellation printing operation to print an image that is formed by removing an image recognized as a show-through image from the original image.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device, which comprises an illumination unit configured to diffuse light from light sources in a predetermined scanning direction to illuminate an object with diffused light, a reading unit having photoreceptors aligned in the predetermined scanning direction to receive light reflected from the object, a detection unit configured to detect lighting status of the light sources; and a controller that obtains an image of the object by using a normal one of the light sources as a main light source if at least one of the light sources is in an abnormal state.

Abstract: Crystalline silicon particles of nanometer order usable as a semiconductor element are provided by a method for producing SiOx particles, comprising irradiating SiOx (X is 0.5 or more and less than 2.0) particles each including therein an amorphous silicon particle having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 5 nm with light, and preferably a laser beam, to produce SiOx (X is 0.5 or more and less than 2.0) particles each including therein a crystalline silicon particle having a particle diameter of 1 to 10 nm.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing device and a controlling system. The printing device is capable of printing images on a recording sheet. The printing device includes a first sheet type setting system that sets first sheet data representing a type of the sheet. The controlling device is capable of communicating with the printing device, and includes a second sheet type setting system that sets second sheet data representing a type of the sheet. The printing system further includes a comparing system that compares the first sheet data with the second sheet data. The printing device performs the printing operation in accordance with a comparison result of the comparing system.

Abstract: A light-emitting device 100 has ITO transparent electrode layers 8, 10 used for applying drive voltage for light-emission to a light-emitting layer section 24, and is designed so as to extract light from the light-emitting layer section 24 through the ITO transparent electrode layers 8, 10. The light-emitting device 100 also has contact layers composed of In-containing GaAs, formed between the light-emitting layer section 24 and the ITO transparent electrode layers 8, 10, so as to contact with the ITO transparent electrode layers respectively. The contact layers 7, 9 are formed by annealing a stack 13 obtained by forming GaAs layers 7?, 9? on the light-emitting layer section, and by forming the ITO transparent electrode layers 8, 10 so as to contact with the GaAs layers 7?, 9?, to thereby allow In to diffuse from the ITO transparent electrode layers 8, 10 into the GaAs layers 7?, 9?.

Abstract: In a facsimile device, a CPU determines whether or not a recording sheet is conveyed normally based on the conveyance state detected by a detecting portion. When the CPU determines that the recording sheet has been conveyed normally, the CPU increases the conveying speed in a stepwise manner based on the current conveying speed until the conveying speed reaches maximum speed. Therefore, according to the present facsimile device, when conveyance of the recording sheet is normally performed at a specified conveying speed, the number of failures of conveyance of the recording sheet can be reduced compared to a facsimile device, in which the conveying speed is set at maximum speed of conveyance by a sheet feed roller. Also, the recording sheet can be conveyed at as high speed as possible.

Abstract: A technique is proposed to provide an appropriate notification in accordance with the state of occurrence of conveyance errors. The level of maintenance required to normalize a conveying function is determined depending on the number of errors, and a notification is provided by displaying a message to a user or by transmitting a message to a service center depending on the level of maintenance. Since the message to the user indicates a specific content of maintenance to normalize the conveying function, the user can normalize the conveying function by taking appropriate measures. On the other hand, since the message to the service center indicates the required level of maintenance, a service person of the service center can normalize the conveying function by going to a place where a multi-function machine, for example, is installed and repairing the multi-function machine.

Abstract: A mounting portion detachably mounts an external storage medium storing image data. An image processing portion performs a predetermined image process on the image data. A normal processing portion performs a normal process other than the predetermined image process. A detecting portion detects that the external storage medium is mounted in the mounting portion. An image-process instructing portion instructs the image processing portion to start the predetermined image process if the detecting portion detects that the external storage medium is mounted. A normal-process instructing portion instructs the normal processing portion to start the normal process.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a conveying mechanism configured to sequentially convey recording sheets, and a detector including a light source and a light-receiving element. The detector is configured to detect an edge position of each of the recording sheets. The apparatus also includes an ink jet recording head configured to eject ink droplets on each of the recording sheets, and a scanning carriage configured to move in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The detector and the ink jet recording head are mounted to the scanning carriage. The apparatus also includes a determining unit for determining one or more characteristics of each of the recording sheets, and a storing unit configured to store the edge position of each of the recording sheets and the one or more characteristics of each of the recording sheets.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a main body and an openable cover. A sheet feed path is defined inside the cover. An intermediate portion of the sheet feed path is exposed to the top surface of the main body, thereby the top surface defines a part of the sheet feed path at the intermediate portion. The cover is provided with a sheet feed mechanism. Feeding of the sheet is terminated when the cover is opened. The image reading device further includes a sheet location detection system that detects a location of the sheet when the feeding of the sheet is terminated, and a controller determines whether the sheet is to be discharged from the sheet feed path, when the cover is closed, in accordance with a location of the sheet detected by the sheet location detection system.

Abstract: To enable a main terminal device to implement specific functions in cooperation with a sub terminal device, when a fax machine serving as the main terminal device stores conversion request data in a shared area of its RAM (S130), a personal computer serving as the sub terminal device generates converted image data based on the conversion request data stored on the fax machine end and stores the resulting data on the fax machine end. Subsequently, the fax machine reads the converted image data stored by the personal computer and transmits this image data. In this way, the fax machine can direct the personal computer to execute part of the process simply by storing request data in a shared area of the RAM, thereby transmitting converted image data in cooperation with the personal computer.

Abstract: A document reading device is provided with a reading unit for reading a document and generating image data corresponding to an image formed on the document. The image data is stored in an external memory that is detachably attached to a slot of the device. The operation for storing the image data to the external memory is interrupted if the external memory is removed from the slot after the document reading is started. Thereafter, when the external memory is reattached to the document reading device, the image storing operation is restarted.

Abstract: A multifunction device has a plurality of functions. The multifunction device includes an input unit, a general-purpose process unit, a single specific process unit, and an output unit. The input unit receives image data. The general-purpose process unit implements a plurality of tasks for each of the plurality of functions. The plurality of tasks includes compression of the image data in a compression format and expansion of the image data which has been compressed. The single specific process unit is controlled by the general-purpose process unit. The specific process unit implements only two tasks, one task being compression of the image data in the compression format for each of the plurality of functions, the other task being expansion of the image data which has been compressed for each of the plurality of functions. The output unit outputs the image data.

Abstract: Crystalline silicon particles of nanometer order usable as a semiconductor element are provided by a method for producing SiOx particles, comprising irradiating SiOx (X is 0.5 or more and less than 2.0) particles each including therein an amorphous silicon particle having a particle diameter of 0.5 to 5 nm with light, and preferably a laser beam, to produce SiOx (X is 0.5 or more and less than 2.0) particles each including therein a crystalline silicon particle having a particle diameter of 1 to 10 nm.

Abstract: An image data is generated by scanning an original. The image data is converted and stored into a RAM. Preview data is generated from the converted data and then displayed on a display unit. When a transmission command is received after the display unit displays the display data, the converted data is transmitted to a prescribed destination.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, semiconductor circuit elements or wiring patterns are formed on a semiconductor substrate then, a porous semiconductor oxide film is formed as an interlayer insulating film on the semiconductor substrate including the semiconductor circuit elements or wiring patterns by oxidizing semiconductor substance in a mixture gas containing an oxygen gas in a chamber.

Abstract: There is provided an image reading device, which comprises an illumination unit configured to diffuse light from light sources in a predetermined scanning direction to illuminate an object with diffused light, a reading unit having photoreceptors aligned in the predetermined scanning direction to receive light reflected from the object, a detection unit configured to detect lighting status of the light sources; and a controller that obtains an image of the object by using a normal one of the light sources as a main light source if at least one of the light sources is in an abnormal state.

Abstract: A low relative permittivity SiOx film excellent in heat resistance without using an alkali metal, fluorine, etc., a method for modifying an SiOx film to accomplish a further reduction of the relative permittivity of the low relative permittivity SiOx film and further to increase the insulating property, a highly reliable semiconductor device free from crack or peeling of the film by employing the low relative permittivity SiOx film as an interlayer insulating film for metal wirings, are provided. The low relative permittivity film is characterized in that it is made of a porous material, the major constituent of which is SiOx (where 1.8?X?1.0), and the relative permittivity at 1 MHz is at most 2.3.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes a conveying mechanism configured to sequentially convey recording sheets, and a detector including a light source and a light-receiving element. The detector is configured to detect an edge position of each of the recording sheets. The apparatus also includes an ink jet recording head configured to eject ink droplets on each of the recording sheets, and a scanning carriage configured to move in a main scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. The detector and the ink jet recording head are mounted to the scanning carriage. The apparatus also includes a determining unit for determining one or more characteristics of each of the recording sheets, and a storing unit configured to store the edge position of each of the recording sheets and the one or more characteristics of each of the recording sheets.

Abstract: An adhesive tape including a tape body to be adhered to an adherend, a positioning tab positioned on one end periphery of the tape body, and a release sheet provided on a rear side of the tape body. The positioning tab and the tape body are interconnected via a connecting portion that is positioned therebetween. The connecting portion is arranged and constructed to be removed.