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: 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: The light-emitting device 100 has an ITO electrode layer 8 for applying drive voltage for light emission to a light emitting layer section 24, where the light from the light emitting layer section 24 is extracted as being passed through the ITO electrode layer 8. Between the light emitting layer section 24 and the ITO electrode layer 8, an electrode contact layer 7 composed of In-containing GaAs is located so as to contact with such ITO electrode layer 8, where occupied areas and unoccupied areas for the electrode contact layer 7 are arranged in a mixed manner on the contact interface with the transparent electrode layer 8. The electrode contact layer 7 can be obtained by annealing a stack 13, which comprises a GaAs layer 7″ formed on the light emitting layer section 24 and the ITO electrode layer 8 formed so as to contact with the GaAs layer 7″, to thereby allow In to diffuse from the ITO electrode layer to the GaAs layer 7″.

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: 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: While a crucible containing an Si material and a substrate to be processed are set in a chamber, Ar gas is supplied into the chamber and the Si material is evaporated by heating, thereby forming a nanoparticle thin film of Si on the substrate. This substrate is then annealed in an oxygen atmosphere to oxidize Si, forming a nanoparticle oxide thin film consisting of SiO2.

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: 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: A multi-function peripheral device serves as a peripheral device for an information processing unit and is capable of simultaneously executing a plurality functions by multi-task processing. The multi-function peripheral device includes: a transmission/reception unit that transmits and receives data, for performing a plurality of functions, between the multi-function peripheral device and the information processing device; a transmission unit that transmits and receives data to and from a remote transmission device via a transmission line; and a reception speed control unit that, when the transmission unit and the transmission/reception unit operate simultaneously, reduces reception speed at which the transmission/reception unit receives data from the information processing device.

Abstract: A multilayered thin container (1) comprises a cylindrical body (2) and a neck or mouth portion (3) for cap-fitting which is integrally formed by extrusion and blow-molding, and comprises an outer layer (A) composed of a high-rigidity resin (i) having an elastic modulus of 2,000 to 23,000 kg/cm2 and an inner layer (B) composed of a low-rigidity resin (ii) having an elastic modulus of not more than 1,000 kg/cm2. When extruding to form the parison, the amount of the high-rigidity resin (i) extruded for a portion corresponding to the neck portion (3) is increased as compared to that corresponding to the cylindrical body (2), so that the neck portion (3) can be set to a higher rigidity than that of the cylindrical body (2).

Abstract: When a memory read and a facsimile transmission operation are concurrently performed, first it is determined in the memory read operation whether a converting block is available based on the state of an in-use flag. If the converting block is unavailable, namely the converting block is in use by the facsimile transmission operation, the memory read operation goes in a standby state. When the converting block is available, namely the in-use flag is reset on the facsimile transmission operation side, the in-use flag is set indicating that the converting block is in use by the memory read operation. Then, one line of document data is coded and stored in an accumulated memory. Next, after the in-use flag is reset, the above-mentioned process is repeated until all of the document data has been coded. This allows the converting block to be alternately used by the memory read and the facsimile transmission operations.

Abstract: An image forming device including: an image transmission device for transmitting image data; a data transmission device for transmitting computer data; a printing device for printing based on image data and computer data stored in a memory; mode setting unit for setting a first mode wherein the image transmission device receives image data from a transmission and stores the image data into the memory while the printing device is printing based on computer data; monitor unit for determining availability of the printing device during the first mode; mode switching unit for remaining in the first mode when the monitor mode determines that the printing device is unavailable before a predetermined duration of time has elapsed and for switching, when the monitor unit determines that the printing device is unavailable after the predetermined duration of time has elapsed, to a second mode wherein the image transmission unit stores image data from the transmission into the memory; and printing control unit for outputt

Abstract: Sheet loading in an image recording apparatus is automatically performed by drawing the leading edge of an elongated, web-like image photosensitive recording medium out of a sheet cartridge, passing it through a predetermined sheet feed path provided between the sheet cartridge and a take-up shaft, and attaching the leader portion of the recording medium to the take-up shaft. A plurality of sensors are disposed alongside the sheet feed path for sensing that the sheet loading is being appropriately performed. The recording medium is successively moved to each of the sensors, and if the recording medium is not sensed thereby, it is rewound around the cartridge shaft.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, for forming and fixing a visible image on a recording medium including a heat-fixing unit for heat-fixing the visible image on the recording medium, a gas purifying unit for removing foul and harmful components from gas emitted from the recording medium in the image fixing process, a counter for accumulatively counting every image fixing process to produce an accumulative number of recording mediums subjected to the image fixing process, a weighting unit for weighting a count value of the counter in accordance with the type of recording medium to be being subjected to the image fixing process and adding a weighted count value to a just-previously accumulated count value to obtain a present accumulative number, and a control unit for monitoring the present accumulative number of the counter and indicating a time for exchange of the gas purifying unit on the basis of the monitored present accumulative number.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a thermal fixing unit which includes a heater to thermally fix an image on a recording medium. The temperature in the apparatus goes down when a replaceable unit is exchanged. A temperature sensor detects the reduction in temperature. A status sensor detects an exchanging state in which the replaceable unit is exchanged and outputs a detection signal indicating the exchanging state. A CPU judges that the heater is properly operating even if the temperature signal indicates the reduction in temperature when the detection signal is outputted.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus having means for changing an exposure condition in accordance with a change in photosensitivity of an applied photosensitive recording medium. The recording medium has a leading end portion provided with a bar code indicative of the photosensitivity. Upon sensing the data, control means controls the exposure condition by controlling light irradiation amount from the light source and/or filter insertion amount relative to an optical path. The bar code may be erroneously read by a bar code reader, or if the bar code is not attached to the recording medium, correct data is read out from a memory means. Alternatively, a standardized data is loaded into the memory means, and the latter data is read out for the control to the exposure condition.

Abstract: Motor-control device for an image forming apparatus includes a motor, an encoder, a microcomputer, and a driving circuit. The encoder generates a pulse signal in response to rotation of the motor. The microcomputer includes a CPU, a RAM and a ROM. The CPU detects actual rotational speed of the motor based upon the pulse signal generated by the encoder. The CPU cyclically provides a driving signal by comparing the actual rotational speed with a predetermined target rotational speed of the motor. An operating cycle is proportional to a cycle of the pulse signal generated by the encoder. The driving circuit drives the motor based upon the driving signal provided by the CPU. The CPU determines the operating cycle based upon the predetermined target rotational speed. The CPU also determines whether the motor condition is normal or abnormal by comparing the driving signal with a predetermined reference driving signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing an exposure process of exposing a microcapsule sheet to light and performing a pressure-developing process of contacting the microcapsule sheet having the latent image thereon with a developer sheet under pressure, thereby to form a visible image on the developer sheet, comprises plural sheet feed rollers for feeding the microcapsule sheet from the sheet feed-out side of the microcapsule sheet to and along a sheet feed path and winding up the microcapsule sheet to thereby perform a sheet feeding operation, an optical sensor or lever sensor provided in the neighboring of the sheet feed-out side of the microcapsule sheet for detecting a sheet feeding condition, such as a residue of the microcapsule sheet, a sheet feed error, a sheet feed speed and so on in the sheet feeding operation and outputting a detection signal indicative of a detection result and a control unit for beforehand storing distance data on the sheet feed path of the latent image forming medium between

Abstract: An imaging device includes a first motor for feeding one of two sheets and a second motor for feeding the other sheet. The amounts of feeding of the sheets is detected and used to control the motors to maintain a predetermined relationship between the sheets.

Abstract: An imaging device for forming a visible image by pressurizing and feeding an exposed recording sheet with a developing sheet detects that the recording sheet and the developing sheet are accurately overlapped with each other before the pressurizing operation is begun. The position of the sheets is monitored and the pressurizing rollers are controlled in accordance with the detected positions.