Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer; a first type of a first semiconductor element that is arranged in a first element region of the semiconductor layer, has first and second main electrodes, and switches current; and a second type of a second semiconductor element that is arranged in a second element region of the semiconductor layer, has third and fourth main electrodes, and freewheels the current. The first and second element regions are adjacent in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which current flows, and are formed in a loop shape over the entire element region when the semiconductor layer is viewed from above. The first main electrode is electrically connected to the third main electrode, and the second main electrode is electrically connected to the fourth main electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer; a first type of a first semiconductor element that is arranged in a first element region of the semiconductor layer, has first and second main electrodes, and switches current; and a second type of a second semiconductor element that is arranged in a second element region of the semiconductor layer, has third and fourth main electrodes, and freewheels the current. The first and second element regions are adjacent in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which current flows, and are formed in a loop shape over the entire element region when the semiconductor layer is viewed from above. The first main electrode is electrically connected to the third main electrode, and the second main electrode is electrically connected to the fourth main electrode.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a liquid tank which retains a liquid; a liquid jetting head connected to the liquid tank and having a nozzle for jetting the liquid; a carriage on which the liquid tank and the liquid jetting head are provided; a recovery mechanism which recovers the liquid jetting head; a memory which retains predetermined history information; and a controller which controls the recovery mechanism based on the history information. The recovery mechanism selectively executes a first recovery operation for discharging air from the liquid tank and a second recovery operation for discharging air from the liquid tank and for discharging the liquid from the nozzle, and the controller controls the recovery mechanism to perform the first recovery operation if the history information in the memory includes an abnormality when a power of the image forming apparatus is switched ON.

Abstract: A diode 10 comprises an SOI substrate in which are stacked a semiconductor substrate 20, an insulator film 30, and a semiconductor layer 40. A bottom semiconductor region 60, an intermediate semiconductor region 53, and a surface semiconductor region 54 are formed in the semiconductor layer 40. The bottom semiconductor region 60 includes a high concentration of n-type impurity. The intermediate semiconductor region 53 includes a low concentration of n-type impurity. The surface semiconductor region 54 includes p-type impurity.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a recording head which has a nozzle opening in a nozzle-defining surface thereof, and ejects, from the nozzle, a droplet of an ink toward a recording medium, in a state in which the recording head is separate from a remaining portion of a recording device. The apparatus includes a cover member which is adapted to air-tightly contact the recording head to cover the nozzle-defining surface of the recording head such that a space is formed between the cover member and the nozzle-defining surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first main electrode and a second main electrode that are provided on a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer has: an n type first semiconductor region in contact with the first main electrode; a p type second semiconductor region in contact with the second main electrode; and an n type third semiconductor region provided between the first and second semiconductor regions. The third semiconductor region has a first layer and a second layer. The impurity concentration in the first layer is uniform. The second layer has a higher impurity concentration than the first layer that increases in a gradient from the first semiconductor region to the second semiconductor region.

Abstract: A diode 10 comprises an SOI substrate in which are stacked a semiconductor substrate 20, an insulator film 30, and a semiconductor layer 40. A bottom semiconductor region 60, an intermediate semiconductor region 53, and a surface semiconductor region 54 are formed in the semiconductor layer 40. The bottom semiconductor region 60 includes a high concentration of n-type impurity. The intermediate semiconductor region 53 includes a low concentration of n-type impurity. The surface semiconductor region 54 includes p-type impurity.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a liquid tank which retains a liquid; a liquid jetting head connected to the liquid tank and having a nozzle for jetting the liquid; a carriage on which the liquid tank and the liquid jetting head are provided; a recovery mechanism which recovers the liquid jetting head; a memory which retains predetermined history information; and a controller which controls the recovery mechanism based on the history information. The recovery mechanism selectively executes a first recovery operation for discharging air from the liquid tank and a second recovery operation for discharging air from the liquid tank and for discharging the liquid from the nozzle, and the controller controls the recovery mechanism to perform the first recovery operation if the history information in the memory includes an abnormality when a power of the image forming apparatus is switched ON.

Abstract: When receiving a command to record an image on a recording medium, controlling means causes recovering means to execute a recovery operation, and then recording means to execute image recording when an elapsed time from the execution of a previous recovery operation measured by clocking means exceeds a predetermined time and a coverage rate of a recording part calculated by coverage rate calculating means exceeds a predetermined value. The controlling means causes the recording means to execute image recording without causing the recovering means to execute the recovery operation when the coverage rate of the recording part calculated by the coverage rate calculating means is not more than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a recording head which has a nozzle opening in a nozzle-defining surface thereof, and ejects, from the nozzle, a droplet of an ink toward a recording medium, in a state in which the recording head is separate from a remaining portion of a recording device, the apparatus including a cover member which is adapted to air-tightly contact the recording head to cover the nozzle-defining surface of the recording head such that a space is formed between the cover member and the nozzle-defining surface; and a selectively communicating device (50c, 80; 53, 53c, 94; 53c, 96; 50c, 62; 50c, 52; 50c, 71) which can selectively take (a) a first state thereof in which the selectively communicating device allows the space to communicate with an atmosphere so that substantially no difference is produced between an air pressure in the space and an atmospheric pressure, when the cover member is air-tightly contacted with the recording head, and (b) a second state thereof in which the selectively commu

Abstract: A pump unit includes a suction pump and a driving mechanism for driving the suction pump. The suction pump has a pump body provided with a suction port and a discharge port which are axially spaced, and a first piston and a second piston slidably fitted in the pump body to form a suction chamber therebetween.

Abstract: In a pressure developing device employed in an imaging device like a duplicating machine, an optical printer etc., pressure force for evenly pressurizing a recording medium is capable of being varied in accordance with the width of the recording medium to be pressurized.

Abstract: A photocopying system without using an intermediate film is disclosed. In this system, the photo-pressure sensitive sheet and an original are tightly overlapped on a photocopying stage. Scratching scars generated by friction therebetween can be avoided by drive means for changing a distance therebetween. Images on the reverse side of the original can be protected from being duplicated by changing a direction of a light beam. Figure/character images, as well as image trimming, can be arbitrarily photocopied by exposing to a light through display on liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: A filter unit includes a plurality of filter members, a filter drive mechanism, and a switching mechanism. One of the filter members is continuously engaged with the filter drive mechanism, so that it is moved toward and away from an optical path extending between an exposure light source and an image recording medium. On the other hand, remaining filter members are selectively engageable with the filter drive mechanism. This selective engagement is provided by the switching mechanism. After remaining one of the filters is selected and engaged with the filter drive mechanism, the selected filter is moved toward the optical path. In this instance, the filter member always engageable with the filter drive mechanism is retracted from the optical path.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including an irradiating device for emitting an image radiation representative of an original image, a projecting device having a viewing screen which is irradiated by the image radiation from the irradiating device and which provides a view of a visible image represented by the image radiation, and an exposing device for exposing a photosensitive recording medium to the image radiation from the irradiating device to produce a visible image represented by said image radiation. The apparatus further includes an optical guide device for directing the image radiation from the irradiating device to the projecting device and the exposing device.

Abstract: In a cassette for accommodating therein a photo-sensitive recording medium, a pair of cassette halves formed of synthetic resin are united together to form a cassette body having defined therein an accommodating chamber for the recording medium. A drawing opening is formed in an outer surface of the cassette body. The recording medium is drawn out of the accommodating chamber through the drawing opening. An optically inert feed passage is defined by cooperation of a wall section of one of the pair of cassette halves with a wall section of the other cassette half when the one and other cassette halves are united together. The feed passage has one end thereof communicating with the accommodating chamber and the other end communicating with the drawing opening such that the recording medium passes through the feed passage when the recording medium is drawn out of the accommodating chamber through the drawing opening.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus including a pattern forming device for forming a light-shielding pattern on one of opposite surfaces of a photosensitive recording medium. The light-shielding pattern is formed of a light-shielding material which is capable of shielding a radiation. The apparatus further includes an exposing device for irradiating the above-indicated one surface of the recording medium, and thereby forming an optical latent image which corresponds to the light-shielding pattern. The light-shielding pattern is removed by a cleaner from the recording medium after the optical latent image is formed. The optical latent image formed on the medium is developed into a visible image.

Abstract: In a pressure developing device employed in an imaging device like a duplicating machine, an optical printer etc, pressure force for pressurizing a recording medium is capable of being varied in accordance with the width of the recording medium to be pressurized.A sensor for detecting the width of the recording medium is provided, and the pressure force is varied based upon the detected value.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of exposing a photosensitive medium for forming thereon a latent image which corresponds to an original image to be reproduced and which is developed into a visible image. The photosensitive medium has a basic minimum amount of exposure to a radiation, below which a density of the visible image remains constant and above which the density varies with an amount of exposure to the radiation. An entire recording surface of the photosensitive medium is evenly exposed to a first radiation by a predetermined first exposure amount determined by the basic minimum amount, and each label area of the recording surface is exposed to a second radiation by a second exposure amount which corresponds to a density in a corresponding local area of the original image, so that the first and second exposure amounts cooperate to form the latent image.

Abstract: An exposure unit for exposing a photosensitive image recording medium with light for forming an image corresponding to an original. The exposure unit comprises a light source; an original mounting table for mounting the original thereon, the original mounting table being disposed above the light source and extending over a light path zone so as to maintain the original at the light path zone, the photosensitive image recording medium being travelled over the original; contact means disposed above the photosensitive image recording medium for providing an intimate contact between the original and the photosensitive image recording medium when the original is brought into the light path zone for allowing a light to pass through the original and to reach to the photosensitive image recording medium; and, means for guiding travel of one of the original and the photosensitive image recording medium.