Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a pair of optical sensing devices for monochrome image forming and full-color image forming which are disposed at the rear of the image forming apparatus and a pair of generally L-shaped light shielding members for monochrome image forming and full-color image forming which are mounted swingably on a rear side of an image transfer unit with one end of each light shielding member attached to one of two sliding members. When each of the sliding members moves back and forth, the light shielding member for monochrome image forming or full-color image forming, whichever applicable, swings and the relevant optical sensing device detects the other end of the light shielding member.

Abstract: Provided is a strobe unit compatible with both a camera that has a synchro switch that does not cause chattering and that can achieve a large number of times of flash photography per unit time and a camera that has a synchro switch whose chattering time is long or short. The strobe unit comprises: a chattering preventing unit that is connected to a flashlight emission initiating unit; a checking unit that checks the type of synchro switch included in an image sensing apparatus, which is connected to the strobe unit via a communication terminal, through transfer of information with the image sensing apparatus; and a control unit that controls the chattering preventing unit according to the result of checking performed by the checking unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic honeycomb structural body, and method for preparing the same, which can satisfactorily support a catalyst and can demonstrate superior mechanical strength, even if far thinner walls are used. Said structural body comprises lattice walls formed by a large number of cells 10 which are channels for fluid and a peripheral wall 12 which covers at least the circumference of said lattice walls 11. The outer peripheral portion 112 of said lattice walls 11 located in the vicinity of said peripheral wall 12 (area B) contain a densified portion of smaller porosity than that of an inner peripheral portion 111, of said lattice walls 11, which is located inside said outer peripheral portion 112 (area A).

Abstract: A color image processing apparatus which processes an original image data line-by-line. The color image processing apparatus includes a detector for detecting a portion in a line where an original image exists. In accordance with an output of the detector, a line-by-line determination is made as to whether the original image is a color image or a monochromatic image. The apparatus further includes a processor for processing the image of the original image in accordance with the result of the determination.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic honeycomb structural body, and method for preparing the same, which can satisfactorily support a catalyst and can demonstrate superior mechanical strength, even if far thinner walls are used. Said structural body comprises lattice walls formed by a large number of cells 10 which are channels for a fluid and a peripheral wall 12 which covers at least the circumference of said lattice walls 11.

Abstract: The thermistor element of the present invention is composed of a mixed sintered body aM1M2O3bY2O3 of a composition M1M2O3 (wherein M1 is Y, and M2 is at least one element selected from the elements such as Cr, Mn, Ti, etc.) as a perovskite compound and Y2O3, wherein molar fractions a and b satisfy the relations 0.05≦a<1.0, 0<b≦0.95 and a+b=1. Another wide-range type thermistor element of the present invention is composed of a perovskite compound M1 (M2M3)O3, wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the elements of the groups II and IIIA excluding La in the Periodic Table, and each of M2 and M3 is at least one element selected from the elements of the groups IIB, IIIB, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA and VIII. a and b satisfy the relations a+b=1 and 0<b<0.1, where a is a molar fraction of M2 and b is a molar fraction of M3 in M1(M2M3)O3.

Abstract: A ceramic carrier and ceramic catalyst body used as NOx purification catalysts for lean burn engines, which are inexpensive, exhibit high temperature durability and can maintain their catalytic function for extended periods. The ceramic carrier has a diffusion-inhibiting layer formed on the surface of a cordierite honeycomb structure, to inhibit diffusion of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, etc. carried as NOx storage materials. The diffusion-inhibiting layer is composed of a ceramic material such as Y2O3, NiO or CeO2 which does not react with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals at temperatures of up to 1000° C. and has a melting point of higher than 1000° C., and the diffusion-inhibiting layer inhibits diffusion of catalyst components such as potassium into the interior to prevent their reaction with cordierite, so that the durability is greatly enhanced without reducing catalytic performance.

Abstract: The thermistor portion of a thermistor device consists of a mixed sintered body of aY(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3.bAl2O3 made of the perovskite-type compound Y(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3 and Al2O3, or a mixed sintered body of aY(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3.b(Al2O3+Y2O3) made of Y(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3, Al2O3 and Y2O3. The mole fractions a and b have the relationships 0.05≦a<1.0, 0<b≦0.95 and a+b=1. This is required to obtain a thermistor device that has stable characteristics and exhibits a small change in its resistance value, even in a heat history from room temperature to 1000° C. or the like, and also has a resistance value of 50 &OHgr; to 100 k&OHgr; in the temperature range from room temperature to 1000° C.

Abstract: To provide a microcontroller having a function for stopping supply of a clock signal to a slave block and a function for properly stopping the access to a slave block to which supply of a clock signal is stopped. A microcontroller of the present invention has a master block 101 for controlling the whole microcontroller, slave blocks 102 and 103 to be controlled by the master block 101, clock-signal control means 106 and 107 for controlling supply/stop of a clock signal in response to a clock control signal output from the master block 101, and a default slave block 104 for outputting a response signal RESP instead of a slave block to which supply of a clock signal is stopped.

Abstract: A ceramic honeycomb structural body, and method for preparing the same, which can satisfactorily support a catalyst and can demonstrate superior mechanical strength, even if far thinner walls are used. The structural body comprises lattice walls formed by a large number of cells which are channels for a fluid and a peripheral wall which covers at least the circumference of the lattice walls. The outer peripheral portion of the lattice walls located in the vicinity of the peripheral wall (area B) contains a densified portion of smaller porosity than that of an inner peripheral portion, of the lattice walls, which is located inside the outer peripheral portion (area A).

Abstract: There is provided a cordierite honeycomb structural body that allows the thickness of the cell walls to be reduced and heat capacity to be decreased by improving the fluidity of the molding material when passing through a mold for extrusion molding while maintaining the shape retention of the molding material. A water-soluble cellulose ether is used as a binder that is added to a cordierite-converted starting material. This water-soluble cellulose ether contains methoxyl groups substituted for the cellulose hydroxyl groups within the range of a substitution rate of 27.5 to 31.5%, does not contain hydroxypropoxyl groups and hydroxyethoxyl groups in an amount greater than the amount of unavoidable impurities (0.1 wt %), and has a viscosity in a 2 wt % aqueous solution at 20° C. of less than 8000 centipoise.

Abstract: Print picture quality of an image processing apparatus is diagnosed, thereby enabling whether it is necessary to perform maintenance of the image processing apparatus or not to be monitored even from a remote location. For this purpose, a system for diagnosing the print picture quality of the image processing apparatus has: transfer means for transferring test data which is necessary for a test print from a server to the image processing apparatus; image input means for scanning an image which was print-outputted by the image processing apparatus in accordance with the test data and inputting image data; discriminating means for examining the image data and discriminating the print picture quality of the image processing apparatus; and notifying means for controlling whether the server is notified of the discrimination result in the discriminating means or not in accordance with this discrimination result.

Abstract: An interface circuit includes a selection circuit receiving first and second signals, generating a time division serial signal by selecting one of the first and second signals in response to the voltage level of a clock signal provided from the outside of a semiconductor device, and outputting the time division serial signal to a single input terminal of the semiconductor device via a single signal line, a first holding circuit, which is connected to the terminal for receiving the time division serial signal, for capturing and outputting the first signal of the time division serial signal in response to the rise of the clock signal, and a second holding circuit, which is connected to the terminal for receiving the time division serial signal, for capturing and outputting the second signal of the time division serial signal in response to the fall of the clock signal.

Abstract: In an ink drying portion, a conveying roller and a rigid roller are rotated by driving force of a driving roller which is transmitted through a driving belt. Air in a housing is discharged by means of a fan and air is sucked into the housing through a clearance between the conveying rollers. A paper conveyed into the ink drying portion is continuously held along a paper drying passageway by the air sucking effect of the discharge of the fan and is consecutively conveyed along the paper drying passageway through the conveying roller. An ink on the paper is dried by direct irradiation with infrared rays from an infrared heat source or by indirect irradiation with infrared rays reflected by a reflecting plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing images, which can discriminate a specific original image from other images with high accuracy. The apparatus includes a first judgment unit for judging whether image data includes data corresponding to image information that is difficult for human eyes to perceive, a second judgment unit for judging whether the image data includes data corresponding to line information arranged such that the line information overlaps image information that is difficult for human eyes to perceive, and a discrimination unit for discriminating whether or not the image data corresponds to a specific image, based on a judgment result of the first judgment unit and a judgment result of the second judgment unit. The method includes corresponding steps to perform these functions.

Abstract: A ceramic carrier and ceramic catalyst body used as NOx purification catalysts for lean burn engines, which are inexpensive, exhibit high temperature durability and can maintain their catalytic function for extended periods. The ceramic carrier has a diffusion-inhibiting layer formed on the surface of a cordierite honeycomb structure, to inhibit diffusion of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, etc. carried as NOx storage materials. The diffusion-inhibiting layer is composed of a ceramic material such as Y2O3, NiO or CeO2 which does not react with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals at temperatures of up to 1000° C. and has a melting point of higher than 1000° C., and the diffusion-inhibiting layer inhibits diffusion of catalyst components such as potassium into the interior to prevent their reaction with cordierite, so that the durability is greatly enhanced without reducing catalytic performance.

Abstract: An image processing system comprises a printer and a reader which are mechanically and functionally separated in such a manner that they can be used independently of each other and the transmission of image information is possible therebetween. Said reader includes an operating unit which cooperates with the printer to perform many functions such as the image operating function, the image transfer function, the presetting function and the image quality processing function, in addition to a function of a conventional copier.

Abstract: A developing device and a blade of the developing device, includes a contact section which is in plane contact with a development roller, and an inclined section which extends from an end of the contact section so as to form a flare at an inflow section of a one-component developer between the blade and development roller. When a flare angle between the blade having the flare and a line tangent to the development roller is denoted by a tilt angle &thgr;, 30°≦&thgr;≦90°. Thus, if the flare angle at the inflow section of the one-component developer between the blade and development roller is optimized, even when the one-component developer deteriorates with time, for example, the flowability is changed with time, it is possible to provide a developing device and a blade of the developing device capable of forming a one-component developer layer with an extremely stable deposit of one-component developer.

Abstract: The objective is to provide an image synthesis method, games machine, and information storage medium which make it easy for a player to learn operating sequences that cause a game character to perform various different actions. If a training mode in which a player can practice manipulations is selected and an attack of a game character 30 hits another game character 32, a hit mark 34 is displayed at the hit location. In addition, a replay image is displayed if a replay creation condition is satisfied or if the player has performed a given manipulation. To enable the player to practice counterattacking, a game character manipulated by the computer initiates attacks at a constant timing.

Abstract: An image processing system comprises a printer and a reader which are mechanically and functionally separated in such a manner that they can be used independently of each other and the transmission of image information is possible therebetween. Said reader includes an operating unit which cooperates with the printer to perform many functions such as the image operating function, the image transfer function, the presetting function and the image quality processing function, in addition to a function of a conventional copier.