Abstract: For designing a more compact image reading device and printer requiring for separating a paper sheet and feeding the separated sheet, a limited space above a sheet cassette is effectively used for accommodating a larger number of paper sheets. A sensor lever is supported at its sensor lever axis fitted in an elliptic hole made in a supporting member of the sensor lever. The axis can swing and slide in the elliptic hole. With a large number of sheets piled in the cassette, the sensor lever swings to about horizontal position and the axis retracts up in the elliptic hole. With a small number of sheets, the sensor lever abuts at its abutting member against a receiving portion of the supporting member to prevent the sensor lever axis from moving upward in the elliptic hole, thereby the sensor lever can reliably detect the state of no paper remaining thereon.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-receiving module includes a semiconductor light-receiving element and an incident light direction device. The semiconductor light-receiving element includes a substrate, at least a light absorbing layer and an upper cladding layer formed sequentially on the substrate, a light incident facet formed at least at one facet of the substrate and the light absorbing layer, and electrodes which output an electric signal generated by absorption of the light entering from the light incident facet in the light absorbing layer. The incident light direction device directs to irradiate the light obliquely to the light incident facet of the semiconductor light-receiving element, and to cause at least part of the light to irradiate the light absorbing layer at the light incident facet.

Abstract: A first supporting member is mounted detachably to one axial end of a supply reel around which an ink film is wound. The first supporting member has a rotating portion generating a braking force to rotation. A second supporting member is mounted detachably to a second axial end of the supply reel, and rotatably supports the second axial end of the supply reel. A winding reel winds up the ink film guided to it from the supply reel. A third supporting member is mounted detachably to one axial end of the winding reel and is rotated in a predetermined winding direction. A fourth supporting member is mounted detachably to a second axial end of the winding reel and rotatably supports the second axial end of the winding reel. The first and third supporting members are detachably supported by a first side plate, and the second and fourth supporting member and fastened to a second side plate.

Abstract: A key device 1 has a plurality of peripheral key tops 11 arranged around a center key top 7 so that the key tops, when pressed, operate switches 3 and 4 arranged below them respectively The center key top 7 is elastically supported by a center hinge 8 extending from a center frame 10 provided around the center key top 7, and the peripheral key tops 11 are provided above the center frame 10 and are each elastically supported by a peripheral hinge 12 extending from a peripheral frame 13 provided around the peripheral key tops 11.

Abstract: A semiconductor light receiving element has an n electrode, an n-type semiconductor doped layer or a non-doped layer provided above the n electrode, a semiconductor light absorbing layer provided above the n-type semiconductor doped layer or the non-doped layer, a p-type semiconductor doped layer provided above the semiconductor light absorbing layer, and a p electrode provided above the p-type semiconductor doped layer. The semiconductor light absorbing layer has at least two layer portions doped to p-type, and a spacer layer for acceleration which is formed from a semiconductor material sandwiched by the two layer portions and which makes electrons and positive holes generated by incident light being absorbed at the semiconductor light absorbing layer accelerate and run.

Abstract: A lower cladding layer is laminated on a substrate and constituted of at least one layer. A light absorption layer is laminated on the lower cladding layer. An upper cladding layer is laminated above the light absorption layer and constituted of at least one layer. A light incident end surface is provided on at least one of the substrate and the lower cladding layer, and, when a light is made incident at a predetermined angle, enables the light to be absorbed in the light absorption layer and to be output as a current. An equivalent refractive index of the at least one of the substrate and the lower cladding layer is larger than that of the upper cladding layer. The predetermined angle is an angle enabling a light incident into the light absorption layer to be reflected at a lower surface of the upper cladding layer.

Abstract: A sequential mesa type avalanche photodiode (APD) comprises a semiconductor substrate and a sequential mesa portion formed on the substrate. In the sequential mesa portion, a plurality of semiconductor layers, including a light absorbing layer and a multiplying layer, are laminated by epitaxial growth. In the plurality of semiconductor layers, a pair of semiconductor layers forming a pn junction is included. The carrier density of a semiconductor layer which is near to the substrate among the pair of semiconductor layers is larger than the carrier density of a semiconductor layer which is far from the substrate among the pair of semiconductor layers. In the APD, light-receiving current based on movement of electrons and positive holes generated in the sequential mesa portion when light is incident from the substrate toward the light absorbing layer is larger at a central portion than at a peripheral portion of the sequential mesa portion.

Abstract: A first supporting member is mounted detachably to one axial end of a supply reel around which an ink film is wound. The first supporting member has a rotating portion generating a braking force to rotation. A second supporting member is mounted detachably to the other axial end of the supply reel, and rotatably supports the other axial end of the supply reel. A winding reel winds up the ink film guided to it from the supply reel. A third supporting member is mounted detachably to one axial end of the winding reel and is rotated in a predetermined winding direction. A fourth supporting member is mounted detachably to the other axial end of the winding reel and rotatably supports the other axial end of the winding reel. The first and third supporting members are detachably supported by a first side plate, and the second and fourth supporting member and fastened to a second side plate.

Abstract: A temperature sensor which can achieve accurate temperature measurement in a magnetic field and accurate temperature measurement over a broader temperature range and, further, provides a temperature sensor which, in the correction of a temperature characteristic on a resistance value of the present temperature sensor, can reduce, to a minimal possible extent, an error between a value found from an approximation equation and a measured value, includes a cylindrical type sensor including a temperature-sensitive device having a micro-crystalline semiconductor thin film formed over an insulating substrate and four electrodes connected to the thin film, a cylindrical container made of a nonmagnetic metal and holding the temperature-sensitive device, together with a helium gas, hermetically sealed therein and four conductors hermetically mounted at the bottom of the container and connected to the corresponding electrodes of the temperature-sensitive device, with the micro-crystalline semiconductor thin film 2 being

Abstract: In a holding construction for holding a recording paper rolled up around a cylindrical base, by inserting a holding member into each end of the base and supporting the holding member with a supporting member, either projections or recesses are formed on the outer circumferential surface of at least one of the holding members at predetermined pitches in the circumferential direction, and either recesses to be engaged with said projections or projections to be engaged with said recesses are formed in the portion of the supporting member which abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the holding member, at pitches determined on the basis of said predetermined pitches.

Abstract: This invention provides a sensing system for measuring a specific value such as the thickness, thermal conductivity, or the like of a substance to be measured by utilizing a change in thermal resistance with a simple arrangement. A sensor has a temperature difference setting thin film (202) and a temperature difference detection thin film (203) formed on a substrate (201) made of a thermally poor conductor, converts a change in temperature difference of the substrate (201) before and after a substance (200) to be measured is thermally coupled to the substrate into a change in thermal resistance of the substrate (201), and outputs the change in thermal resistance as a temperature difference information signal for calculating a desired specific value of the substance to be measured.