Abstract: A voltage conversion circuit with reduced power consumption can be used for a power supply device (100). The power supply device (100) is composed of a power supply circuit (3) including an alternating power supply (1) and a rectifying circuit (2); a voltage conversion circuit (6) including a plurality of capacitors (4) and a switching circuit (5); and a load circuit (7). The voltage conversion circuit (6) is connected between the power supply circuit (3) and the load circuit (7). The alternating power supply (1) is connected to a switching circuit (5) of the voltage conversion circuit (6) without having the rectifying circuit (2) in between. An output voltage (potential fluctuation: a potential difference generated in the signal waveform of the power supply voltage) from the alternating power supply (1) prior to rectification is applied to the switching circuit (5).

Abstract: An electrostatic induction power generator includes first and second substrates arranged to be opposed to each other, a third substrate arranged between the first and second substrates, first and second electrodes provided on both surfaces of the third substrate respectively, a third electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate; and a fourth electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate.

Abstract: An electric power generator capable of using external vibrations in various directions to generate power. A fixed substrate having a surface with a plurality of electret electrodes and a movable substrate having a surface with a movable electrode are spaced from each other. The fixed substrate is fixed in the electric power generator. Spring driving bodies support the movable substrate so that the movable substrate elastically moves in any direction within an XY plane when receiving external vibrations.

Abstract: An electrostatic generator includes a substrate, an electrode formed on or in a surface of the substrate, an electret film provided so as to be opposed to the electrode and an insulating film on an electrode side formed on a surface of the electrode on a side opposed to the electret film.

Abstract: A mounting relief portion for mounting a duplex unit on an image forming apparatus main body is provided in an exterior cover pivotally movably provided on the image forming apparatus main body, and capable of opening and closing a sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet fixed by a fixing device, and this mounting relief portion is shaped so as not to contact with a protrusion of the duplex unit mounted on the image forming apparatus main body when the exterior cover is opened.

Abstract: A machine tool is provided with a machining unit, a base plate, and an intermediate plate. The machining unit is fixed to a frame. The base plate is movable along a rail on the frame. The base plate moves a work piece toward and away from the machining unit. The intermediate plate is movable along the rail between the machining unit and the base plate. The intermediate plate pushes a reference plane of the work piece set on the base plate so that the work piece is positioned in a machining position.

Abstract: An electrostatic operating apparatus (electrostatic induction generator) includes a first substrate having a first electrode and a second electrode and set in a state where the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically separated from each other at least on the substrate and a second substrate including an electret member, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are so provided as to be opposed to each other at an interval and so formed as to be movable relatively with each other, and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is so formed as to be capacitively coupled with the electret member.

Abstract: An electric power generator capable of using external vibrations in various directions to generate power. A fixed substrate having a surface with a plurality of electret electrodes and a movable substrate having a surface with a movable electrode are spaced from each other. The fixed substrate is fixed in the electric power generator. Spring driving bodies support the movable substrate so that the movable substrate elastically moves in any direction within an XY plane when receiving external vibrations.

Abstract: An electrostatic induction generator requiring no electric power supply device and capable of being mounted on a printed board is obtained. This electrostatic induction generator includes a pair of first electrodes capable of storing charges, a pair of vibrating electrodes capable of vibrating in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction, and charged with opposite charges due to charges stored in the pair of first electrodes respectively, and a second electrode for electrically connecting the pair of vibrating electrodes to each other in a case where the pair of vibrating electrodes are at prescribed positions.

Abstract: A sonic sensor capable of improving sensitivity while enabling downsizing is provided. This sonic sensor comprises an electrode plate and a diaphragm including a charge storage member opposed to the electrode plate at a prescribed distance and provided in a vibratory manner and a power generation member constituted of a piezoelectric substance capable of generating power upon vibration with the charge storage member. The charge storage member is so formed as to store charges supplied by the power generation member, for converting sound to an electrical signal on the basis of change in the capacitance between the diaphragm and the electrode plate.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus main body for containing sheets in the inside thereof includes: a first cover and a second cover which are openable and closable; and a detecting sensor for detecting an opening and closing of the first cover. The detecting sensor does not detect closing of the first cover when the first cover is closed in a state in which the second cover is opened and detects closing of the first cover when the first cover is closed in a state in which the second cover is closed.

Abstract: A mounting relief portion for mounting a duplex unit on an image forming apparatus main body is provided in an exterior cover pivotally movably provided on the image forming apparatus main body, and capable of opening and closing a sheet conveying path for conveying a sheet fixed by a fixing device, and this mounting relief portion is shaped so as not to contact with a protrusion of the duplex unit mounted on the image forming apparatus main body when the exterior cover is opened.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus main body for containing sheets in the inside thereof includes: a first cover and a second cover which are openable and closable; and a detecting sensor for detecting an opening and closing of the first cover. The detecting sensor does not detect closing of the first cover when the first cover is closed in a state in which the second cover is opened and detects closing of the first cover when the first cover is closed in a state in which the second cover is closed.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus in which the vibration of a document by the shock when the trailing edge of the document has passed an ante-reading roller is prevented to thereby prevent the misregister or distortion of a read image.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus main body for containing sheets in the inside thereof includes: a first cover and a second cover which are openable and closable; and a detecting sensor for detecting an opening and closing of the first cover. The detecting sensor does not detect closing of the first cover when the first cover is closed in a state in which the second cover is opened and detects closing of the first cover when the first cover is closed in a state in which the second cover is closed.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device capable of attaining excellent performance with a single-layer gate electrode structure is obtained. This charge-coupled device, having a single-layer gate electrode structure, comprises a gate insulator film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of partitions, consisting of an insulator, formed on the gate insulator film, and concave gate electrodes, arranged between adjacent ones of the partitions, having side surfaces formed along side portions of the partitions. Thus, when the partitions are formed with a width of not more than the minimum critical dimension of lithography, the interval between the adjacent gate electrodes is not more than the minimum critical dimension of lithography.

Abstract: A solid state image device capable of attaining high condensability also when integrating an optical lens and a solid state image sensor with each other is provided. This solid state image device comprises an optical lens, a solid state image sensor including a microlens, and a resin layer formed between the optical lens and the microlens of the solid state image sensor. Thus, the solid state image device can refract light incident upon the microlens from the resin layer also when the resin layer is formed between the solid state image sensor and the optical lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device capable of suppressing deterioration of image quality due to shortage of the amount of light. The imaging device comprises an imaging part which performs photoelectric conversion; a mixing part which mixes electrons corresponding to at least two of pixels transferred from the imaging part; and an electron-ejection gate electrode which has a length in the transfer direction smaller than the length in the transfer direction of a gate electrode of later stage and ejects the electrons mixed by the mixing part.

Abstract: A document feeding apparatus in which the vibration of a document by the shock when the trailing edge of the document has passed an ante-reading roller is prevented to thereby prevent the misregister or distortion of a read image.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device capable of improving reliability of a gate insulator film is obtained. This method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises a step of forming a gate insulator film on the main surface of a semiconductor layer by heat treatment, and the step of forming the gate insulator film includes a step of performing the heat treatment in an atmosphere containing oxidizing gas at a temperature exceeding the temperature causing viscous flow of the gate insulator film thereby forming the gate insulator film on the main surface of the semiconductor layer.