Abstract: In a fusion splicing method and device for optical fibers, bare fibers (f) of ribbon optical fibers “F” to be spliced together are arranged, in opposite direction to each other, on a fiber setup stage (30). An interval of a pair of the discharge electrode rods (10,20) is optionally changed according to the fiber number of the bare fibers “f” of the ribbon optical fiber “F” so that all of the bare fibers “f” are set into a uniform temperature area in a discharge area, and an optimum fusion splicing process is performed according to the fiber number of the bare fibers “f”.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a plurality or developing devices for developing electrostatic images formed on the image bearing member with developers, the developing devices including respective developer carrying members for carrying respective developers; moving means for moving a selected one of the developing devices to an operative position, wherein each of the developer carrying members is movable selectively to be in contact with or spaced from the image bearing member at the operative position; wherein the apparatus is operable in a first image formation mode in which an image is formed using the plurality of developing devices and a second image formation mode in which an image is formed using one of the plurality of developing devices, and wherein the developer carrying member which is at the operative position in the first image formation mode is capable of being spaced from the image bearing member by a first distance during non-developing operation, and the develop

Abstract: A semiconductor device, wherein a first metallic member is bonded to a first electrode of a semiconductor element via a first metallic body containing a first precious metal, and a second metallic member is bonded to a second electrode via a second metallic body containing a second precious metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording material including a support having disposed thereon a recording layer that contains a diazo compound and a compound represented by formula (1): 1

Abstract: A staple cartridge includes: a cartridge body for accommodating a large number of staples; and a face plate provided at a front end portion of the cartridge body, for forming a striking passage (211) of striking a staple by a driver, wherein support pieces are integrally formed from both side edges of the face plate to the rear, engaging bosses formed in the support pieces are engaged with recess portions formed on both sides of the front end portion of the cartridge body (206), and the face plate is slidably and pivotally supported by the cartridge body (206). In the cartridge body (206) and cover (209), the small thickness grooves (215), (216), by which the staple cartridge (204) is bent into two pieces, are formed on the circumference of the staple accommodating portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes: an image bearing member, a charging member for charging the image bearing member, the charging member bearing electrically conductive particles that contact the image bearing member, and a developer carrying member for carrying a developer provided with toner and electrically conductive particles, the developer carrying member being applied a voltage to develop an electrostatic image formed on the image bearing member with the developer and being capable of collecting a residual developer on the image bearing member, wherein the developer carrying member is provided in such a manner that the developer carrying member opposes the image bearing member via a gap of 150 &mgr;m or more and 250 &mgr;m or less.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide a light scanning device capable of suppressing a scanning line bend to a low level, which is caused by the arrangement error of a single-element lens serving as an imaging optical element, and an image forming apparatus using the device. In order to achieve the object, according to this invention, an imaging optical system is formed from a single-element lens, and a sectional shape of an exit surface in the main scanning direction is an arcuated shape. The power in the sub scanning direction substantially concentrates on the exit surface having an arcuated sectional shape in the main scanning direction, and the arcuated shape (curvature) in the main scanning direction is so determined as to make the magnification in the sub scanning direction uniform.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical transmission apparatus and provides a wavelength tunable DBR laser diode capable of minimizing change in optical power upon wavelength tuning and having a broad wavelength tunable range. The present invention provides a wavelength tuning DBR laser diode of a waveguide type optical device in which an active waveguide and a distributed Bragg reflector are optically combined in a predetermined section on a semiconductor substrate wherein at least one quantum well layer independent of the active waveguide is formed at a portion or the entire portion of the distributed Bragg reflector.

Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device in which a plurality of threshold values are set to store multi-level data in a memory cell, bits of multi-bit data are separately written into a memory cell according to an address signal or a control signal to effect the reading and erasing. Concretely, the memory array is so constituted that it can be accessed by three-dimensional address of X, Y and Z, and multi-bit data in the memory cell is discriminated by the Z-address.

Abstract: A position detecting apparatus for detecting position of an object disposed in a first space by receiving light from the object with a light receiving element disposed outside said first space, said position detecting apparatus includes an optical system for directing light from the object to the light receiving element, and a first optical element transmitting light from the object, disposed in said partitioning member for partitioning said first space and space outside said first space, wherein said first optical element is located on a position on or near a pupil plane or a plane conjugate to the pupil plane of said optical system.

Abstract: A method of assembling an ink ribbon cartridge comprises inserting a leaf spring having a mounting frame and a flat spring finger that longitudinally extends from the mounting frame, beginning at an opening in the mounting frame, and at an acute angle from the opening, into a housing-half to position the spring finger pointing at the acute angle into the housing-half, and inserting an ink ribbon spool having opposite hub ends and a rotation axis into the housing-half, laterally relative to the rotation axis, to cause one of the hub ends to depress the spring finger at least partially into the opening, whereby the spring finger will urge the spool in one direction along the rotation axis.

Abstract: A novel protein which is useful as diagnostic means for the studies relating to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer (detection of cancer cells, estimation of the malignity, etc.) and in other medicinal and physiological purposes; a gene encoding the same; and an antibody, in particular, a monoclonal antibody specific to the protein. MT-MMP-3, which is a pro MMP-2 activator having the ability to activate pro MMP-2 which is under expression specifically on the surface layer of a human cancer cell and falling within the category of MMP but being different from MT-MMP-1; a DNA containing the base sequence encoding the same; host cells transformed by the DNA; a process for producing a matrix metalloproteinase protein by using the host cells; a monoclonal antibody binding specifically to the matrix metalloproteinase protein; and use of the protein and antibody.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for producing P1,P4-di(uridine-5′-)tetraphosphate (U2P4) or a salt thereof from uridine 5′-monophosphate (UMP); wherein the process comprises at least one of the steps (a) and (b): (a) adding UMP diphenylphosphate (UMP-DPP) in divided portions during a step of reacting UMP-DPP with an organic alkali salt of pyrophosphate (PP1) to produce a reaction mixture; wherein at least one equivalent of a first base is present during one portion of the reaction; (b) reacting UMP-DPP with a PPi-organic alkali salt in the presence of at least one equivalent of a second base to produce a reaction mixture, wherein the first base and the second base may be the same or different; (c) subsequently adding water to the reaction mixture to produce an aqueous reaction mixture; and optionally (d) adding an alkali to the aqueous reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal recording material comprising a support and at least a thermal recording layer disposed on the support, wherein at least one of the thermal recording layer includes, together with an electron donating colorless dye, at least an electron accepting compound represented by the following general formula (1). R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; and Ar is represented by the following general formula (2). In the general formula(2), R11 to R14 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group with 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group.

Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning optical device and an image forming apparatus using the same, wherein the scanning optical device includes a scanning optical element provided by a single lens. In relation to a predetermined one of two optical surfaces of the single lens having a larger refractive power in a minor scan direction on an optical axis, the shape of optical surface of the single lens is determined so as to satisfy a relation 0.9≦øm/øp≦ømx/øpx=1.0≦1.1øm/øp where øp is a refractive power of the single lens in a minor scan direction on the optical axis, øm is a refractive power of the single lens in the minor scan direction at a most abaxial point, øpx is a refractive power at the predetermined optical surface of the single lens in the minor scan direction on the optical axis, and ømx is a refractive power at the predetermined optical surface of the single lens in the minor scan direction at a most abaxial point.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, wherein a first metallic member is bonded to a first electrode of a semiconductor element via a first metallic body containing a first precious metal, and a second metallic member is bonded to a second electrode via a second metallic body containing a second precious metal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, wherein a first metallic member is bonded to a first electrode of a semiconductor element via a first metallic body containing a first precious metal, and a second metallic member is bonded to a second electrode via a second metallic body containing a second precious metal.

Abstract: In a fusion splicing method and device for ribbon optical fibers, bare fibers (I) of the ribbon optical fibers are arranged, in opposite direction to each other, on a fiber setup stage (10) having V-grooves. A discharge occurs between the discharge electrode rods (21,22). In order to set all of the bare fibers “f” into a uniform temperature area in a discharge area, a wide and length of the uniform temperature area is extended by applying to the discharge area an electric field generated by applying a desired voltage to fiber clamps (31) made up of a conductive material. Thereby, a good fusing and splicing process is performed by supplying a uniform amount of heat to all of the bare fibers “f”. Further, the above process is also performed while a desired voltage is applied to a conductive plate arranged under the fiber setup stage (10).

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus includes an illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle having a pattern, with illumination light supplied from a light source, a projection optical system for projecting the pattern onto a substrate by use of the illumination light, a measuring system for measuring angular distribution of the illumination light, and an adjusting system for changing angular distribution of the illumination light, entering the projection optical system, on the basis of measurement by the measuring system and in accordance with a distance from an optical axis.

Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory in which multiple-value information is stored in one memory cell by setting a plurality of threshold values, data is successively read from word lines while continuously changing the word-line read level from a lowest level to a highest level, and the next bit line is selectively precharged in accordance with the data stored in latch means for storing read data.