Abstract: Four beams are caused to scan a scanning surface in the main scanning direction in parallel. The beams expose the target area between two optical sensors, not the surface of a photosensitive drum, to produce correction data to correct shifts in the exposure positions of the four beams in the main scanning direction with an accuracy of less than a small fraction of one pixel. On the basis of the correction data, an actual image formation area is set on the photosensitive drum. This makes it possible to always control the relative exposure scanning position accurately even when the relationship between the main scanning positions of the light beams is unknown.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing semiconductor substrates in which a semiconductor layer for forming semiconductor device therein is formed on a supporting substrate with an insulating film interposed between, with which in forming the semiconductor layer on a substrate on which a buried pattern structure has been formed it is possible to greatly increase the film thickness uniformity of the semiconductor layer and the film thickness controllability, particularly when the semiconductor layer is being formed as an extremely thin film. As a result, it is possible to achieve improved quality and characteristics of the semiconductor substrates and make possible the deployment of such semiconductor substrates to various uses.

Abstract: A light beam is made to scan and expose a photosensitive drum in the main scanning direction and the passing position of the light beam in the sub-scanning direction is sensed. On the basis of the result of the sensing, the light beam is shifted in the sub-scanning direction when the beam is made to scan by a scanner so that the passing position may come in a target range, which brings the passing position to the proper position. After the position control, the passing position of the light beam is confirmed and controlled so that the passing position may fall on the proper position a specific number of times consecutively. When the light beam is shifted in the sub-scanning direction, the passing position of the light beam is brought into a final target range in such a manner that the target range is forced to converge stepwise in a first range and then in a second range narrower than the first range.

Abstract: In a digital copying mechine using a multi-beam optical system, first light receiving elements of a light beam detector placed on the extension of the surface of a photosensitive drum detects the positions of paths of scanning light beams in the sub-scanning direction. On the basis of the results of this detection, the amount of control for the position of the path of each light beam is calculated. Galvano mirrors, adapted to reflect the light beams onto the surface of the photosensitive drum, are driven accordingly, so that the paths of the light beams are properly positioned in the sub-scanning direction. Second light receiving elements of the light beam detector detect times at which the light beams move across the light beam detector. A sync clock is produced after a delay from when each light beam moves across the light beam detector.

Abstract: A beam position detector output processor converts an output from a beam position detector into beam position information. A main control unit detects a total offset value of a plurality of operational amplifiers constituting the processor. The detected offset value is used to compensate a determination reference value used to control the sub-scanning position of a beam, or the beam position information obtained from the beam position detector output processor. As a result, the offsets of the operational amplifiers constituting the beam position detector output processor are compensated.

Abstract: A beam passing position controlling apparatus comprises a light source for emitting a beam, a mechanism for reflecting the beam toward an image carrier surface to scan the image carrier surface, a sensor for detecting a position where the beam passes on the image carrier surface, a circuit for calculating a correction amount from the position detected, a mechanism for correcting the passing position of the beam on the basis of the correction amount, and a circuit for controlling respective operations of the apparatus.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device having an SOI structure is capable of preventing occurrence of leak current flowing from a diffusion layer even when a semiconductor element having a pn-junction is included in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor integrated circuit device having the SOI structure is formed with a semiconductor layer, or SOI layer, on a p-type semiconductor substrate through a buried insulating film and further with semiconductor circuit elements serving as functional elements at the SOI layer thus formed. As a protection transistor to protect the semiconductor circuit elements, a MOSFET may be formed in which n-type diffusion layers are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The n-type diffusion layers of the MOSFET are to be surrounded by p-type diffusion layers more highly doped than the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device having an input protection circuit element such as a diode formed in the semiconductor substrate, the leak current is suppressed. An nMOS transistor and a pMOS transistor that constitute a CMOS inverter circuit are formed using a SOI structure. An n-type diffusion layer and p-type diffusion layer are formed within the semiconductor substrate to thereby construct a protective diode that forms an input protection circuit for the CMOS inverter circuit. By surrounding the outer periphery of the n-type diffusion layer with the p-type diffusion layer, the depletion layer that is formed at an interface between the semiconductor substrate and a buried insulation film therein is cut off by the p-type diffusion layer, thereby suppressing the leak current between the n-type diffusion layer and the p-type diffusion layer.

Abstract: An automatic paper feeding apparatus is designed to separate and feed originals by means of a separation pad and a feeding roller. A pressure sensitive conductive rubber is used for the separation pad to convert a change in thickness of an original into an electrical signal, thereby detecting a conveyed state, e.g., a multiple paper-conveying error, of the original.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to allow detection of multiple paper-conveying of an original sheet in image reading or forming operation and facilitate a recovery operation. An automatic original feeding apparatus of this invention uses pressure sensitive conductive rubber in a feeding roller, and changes in length and thickness of a sheet are changed into electrical signals, so that the conveyed state such as multiple paper-conveying of the sheet can be detected.

Abstract: An X-ray diagnostic apparatus capable of automatically and accurately moving the supporting member in strict accordance with flow of an image forming agent injected into a blood vessel of patient. The X-ray diagnosis apparatus includes a bed on which the patient is placed to be examined; an X-ray generating unit for generating and transmitting an X-ray toward the patient; an X-ray image photographing unit, for photographing an X-ray image radiated through the patient; a display monitor for displaying an image photographed by the X-ray photographing unit; a flow-rate measuring system for measuring a flowing rate of the image forming agent according to the X-ray image photographed; and a position-changing device for automatically changing a spot of the patient to be photographed by the photographing unit according to the flowing rate measured by the flow-rate measuring system.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for processing an analog image signal obtained from a CCD, etc. and converting the processed image signal to a digital image signal. The integrated circuit includes a circuit for adjusting an offset voltage included in the analog image signal, a circuit for sampling/holding the image signal from the adjusting circuit, a variable amplifier for varying an amplitude of the image signal output from the sampling/holding circuit, an analog/digital converter for converting the image signal from the variable amplifier to a digital signal, and a circuit for detecting a DC component included in the digital image signal and providing the detection result to the adjusting circuit. Correction of a DC voltage component of the analog image signal and amplitude adjustment of the analog image signal can be performed by using a single LSI, and the LSI can be connected to various types of CCDs without using an additional circuit.

Abstract: A gain control signal is produced according to the difference in level between the signal obtained by scanning the white reference plate and the previously stored standard signal. Based on the gain control signal, the amplification level of the signal obtained by scanning the document is adjusted by a gain controller, and then the resulting signal is converted into a digital signal and supplied outside.

Abstract: An apparatus including an integrated circuit for processing analog image signals supplied from a CCD sensor. The integrated circuit has a photodiode line array between a pair of shift gates and a pair of CCD shift registers, in that order. The integrated circuit further includes logic that combines the respective output signals of the CCD shift registers as signals either in-phase or out-of-phase (in opposite phase) with respect to each other, and a selecting signal generating device to generate a signal that selects, or indicates the selected, one or the other of the two combinations.

Abstract: An image-reading device, in which the 1-bit signals a CCD line sensor has generated from the light applied from an illumination lamp and reflected from an original are shading-corrected, thereby forming image data. Before scanning the original, a black reference signal, a white reference signal at a level higher than that of the black reference level, and three intermediate reference signals are generated and stored into memories. During the scanning of the original, a selector selects two of the reference signals in accordance with the level of each signal output by the CCD line sensor, and the difference between the signal output by the sensor and the black reference signal is shading-corrected, by using the two reference signals selected by the selector.