Abstract: A main bit line is disposed between a reference main bit line and core main bit lines. A selection transistor disposed between a sub bit line connected to a cell and the main bit line can switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state independently of other selection transistors. A dummy main bit line can be set to ground potential by a shield grounding section, and can be used as a shield line of the reference main bit line.

Abstract: Bit lines connected to each nonvolatile memory cell are selected by corresponding selective transistors. A first drive circuit for driving the gate of one of the selective transistors receives a voltage selected by a first voltage switch, and a second drive circuit for driving the gate of the other selective transistor receives a voltage selected by a second voltage switch. A transistor constituting the first drive circuit is different in structure from a transistor constituting the second drive circuit.

Abstract: A developing device that can discharge developer by an amount of developer in the developing device increased by a carrier supplemented into the developing device includes a supply transport screw and a receiving transport screw in a top and bottom positional relationship, the rotational axes of the supply transport screw and the receiving transport screw are mutually parallel in relation to an image support member. The developing device also includes an inclined transport screw arranged at an incline between one end of the supply transport screw and an other end of the receiving transport screw. The developing device also includes a supply unit for supplying new carrier into a casing and a discharge port and discharge unit for discharging part of the developer housed in the casing to the outside, the discharge port provided on a part of the casing corresponding to an upper part of the inclined transport screw.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a runout measurement information storage unit to store runout measurement information of the image carrier and the developer carrier, including runout amounts on the circumference of the image and developer carriers in a development area, a development gap measurement information storage unit to store information obtained by measuring a development gap when runout measurement points of the image and developer carriers face each other, and a development electric field strength control unit to obtain each development electric field strength based on the runout measurement information and the development gap measurement information, and determine control contents of development electric field strength control to cause the entire development electric field strengths to fall within an acceptable range of a target electric field strength to perform the control contents.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which forms a releasing agent absorption toner image on an in-between printed sides area of a moving surface of an image carrier in the duplex printing mode. When the in-between printed sides area of the moving surface enters a transfer position at which a toner image is transferred from the image carrier to a recording medium, the transferring operation of transferring the toner image from the image carrier to a recording medium is interrupted to keep the releasing agent absorption toner image on the in-between printed sides area of the moving surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A developing device that can suitably discharge developer from the developing device by the amount of developer in the developing device increased by carrier supplemented into the developing device, including: a supply transport screw and a receiving transport screw, the rotational axes of which are mutually parallel in relation to an image support member and which are arranged in a top and bottom positional relationship, and an inclined transport screw which is arranged at an incline between one end of the supply transport screw and the other end of the receiving transport screw; supply means for supplying new carrier into a casing; and a discharge port and discharge means for discharging part of the developer housed in the casing to the outside, the discharge port being provided on the part of the casing corresponding to the upper part of the inclined transport screw.

Abstract: A developing device that can discharge developer by an amount of developer in the developing device increased by a carrier supplemented into the developing device includes a supply transport screw and a receiving transport screw in a top and bottom positional relationship, the rotational axes of the supply transport screw and the receiving transport screw are mutually parallel in relation to an image support member. The developing device also includes an inclined transport screw arranged at an incline between one end of the supply transport screw and an other end of the receiving transport screw. The developing device also includes a supply unit for supplying new carrier into a casing and a discharge port and discharge unit for discharging part of the developer housed in the casing to the outside, the discharge port provided on a part of the casing corresponding to an upper part of the inclined transport screw.

Abstract: A development apparatus includes a first developer chamber configured to store and supply the developer, a first developer bearer configured to convey the developer supplied from the first developer chamber to a first development domain, defined by a portion of the first developer bearer facing a latent image bearer, to develop the latent image, a second developer bearer configured to convey the developer passed through the first development domain to a second development domain, defined by a portion of the second developer bearer facing the latent image bearer, to develop the latent image, a second developer chamber configured to recover the developer passing through the second development domain and store the recovered developer, and a transfer prevention member provided between the second developer chamber and the second developer bearer to reduce a transfer of the developer from the second developer chamber to the second developer bearer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that includes a developing unit with a developing roller to form an image using toner; a controller; and a detection unit that detects a plurality of toner patches formed at different densities on an image carrier by the image forming unit. The controller controls the image forming unit to form the toner patches on the image carrier so that each interval between the toner patches is equal to or greater than a length corresponding to a circumference length of the developing roller.

Abstract: A device for determining an end of life of an organic photoreceptor includes a potential detecting unit that detects a residual potential of the organic photoreceptor, a temperature detecting unit that detects temperature of the organic photoreceptor in either one of a direct manner and an indirect manner, and a life determining unit that determines the end of life of the organic photoreceptor based on the residual potential detected by the potential detecting unit and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit.

Abstract: In a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, variations in voltage applied to a bit line when an erase voltage applying step is repeatedly executed are suppressed, thereby reducing variations in Vt after erasure. A memory array includes memory cells arranged in an array, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines and main bit lines. The memory array also includes a usable region which can store data and an isolation region which cannot store data. Each bit line provided in the usable region is connected via a select transistor to the corresponding main bit line. At least one main bit line is connected not only to a bit line of the usable region, but also to a bit line of the isolation region via a select transistor.

Abstract: A developing device is disclosed. The developing device includes a developing roller disposed to face an image carrier and a toner carrier capturing roller disposed to face the developing roller for capturing toner carriers adhered onto the image carrier. The developing roller generates a magnetic pole at a side facing the toner carrier capturing roller. A first virtual line, which connects a rotational center of the developing roller to a rotational center of the toner carrier capturing roller, passes through a region between a position where a magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is minimum on the developing roller at the upstream side in the rotational direction of the developing roller and a position where the magnetic flux density of the magnetic pole in the normal line direction is maximum on the developing roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a developing unit to develop a latent image on the image carrier with developer including toner and carrier, a developer bearing member, a first detector to detect a toner adhesion amount per unit area of a toner image developed by the developing unit, a second detector to detect humidity, and a controller to calculate an index indicating toner chargeability of the carrier based on detection results of the toner adhesion amount obtained by the first detector and perform a given control process based on calculation results thereof and including a data storage unit to store an algorithm to correct the index to a specific value according to a specific humidity, based on detection results of the humidity obtained by the second detector. The controller corrects the index obtained based on the amount of toner adhesion based on the algorithm.

Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device, a voltage rise due to IR-DROP is suppressed which occurs when a ground voltage is applied to a memory cell during a program operation. Discharge transistors are provided between the ground and bit lines connected to the source and drain of the memory cell. The discharge transistors receive mutually independent discharge control signals which are generated and outputted from a DS decoder driver at the respective gates thereof. To the bit line which applies the ground voltage to the memory cell, the ground voltage can be set using the discharge transistor.

Abstract: A developing unit containing developer including carrier and toner and developing a latent image formed on an image carrier is disclosed. The developing unit includes multiple conveyor members configured to convey the contained developer in respective longitudinal directions so as to form a circulation channel; a supply part configured to supplement the carrier in the developing unit; a discharge part configured to discharge a first part of the contained developer outside the developing unit; and a bypass channel configured to cause a second part of the developer to return to the upstream side of the circulation channel without passing a position where the discharge part is provided.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device includes a developer carrier including a developing sleeve and a magnetic roller provided inside the developing sleeve. The magnet roller includes a regulating magnetic pole and a pump-up magnetic pole that have different polarities from each other. Among an entire region of the moving surface of the developing sleeve in the surface movement direction, a maximum pump-up magnetic force position where the pump-up magnetic force of the pump-up magnetic pole is maximum faces an upstream position with respect to a supplying position at which the developer is supplied from a supplying screw to the developing sleeve.

Abstract: A disclosed developing device is for accommodating a developer including carriers and a toner, and for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier. The developing device includes plural developer conveying units configured to convey the developer accommodated in the developing device and form circulating paths; and a ventilation unit configured to perform ventilation between at least one of the developer conveying units whose internal pressure increases and at least one of the developer conveying units whose internal pressure decreases.

Abstract: In a developing device, a receive-convey screw conveys a developer received from a developer carrier. The receive-convey screw includes a receive-convey blade including a lower, outer circumferential end located in a downstream end of the receive-convey blade in the developer conveyance direction of the receive-convey screw. A slant-convey screw is disposed obliquely relative to an axial direction of the receive-convey screw, and conveys the developer received from the receive-convey screw upward. The slant-convey screw includes a slant-convey blade including a lower, outer circumferential end located in an upstream end of the slant-convey blade in the developer conveyance direction of the slant-convey screw, the lower, outer circumferential end being located at a height level lower than the lower, outer circumferential end of the receive-convey blade.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developer carrier, a runout measurement information storage unit to store runout measurement information of the image carrier and the developer carrier, including runout amounts on the circumference of the image and developer carriers in a development area, a development gap measurement information storage unit to store information obtained by measuring a development gap when runout measurement points of the image and developer carriers face each other, and a development electric field strength control unit to obtain each development electric field strength based on the runout measurement information and the development gap measurement information, and determine control contents of development electric field strength control to cause the entire development electric field strengths to fall within an acceptable range of a target electric field strength to perform the control contents.

Abstract: A device for determining an end of life of an organic photoreceptor includes a potential detecting unit that detects a residual potential of the organic photoreceptor, a temperature detecting unit that detects temperature of the organic photoreceptor in either one of a direct manner and an indirect manner, and a life determining unit that determines the end of life of the organic photoreceptor based on the residual potential detected by the potential detecting unit and the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit.