Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a plurality of light-receiving elements, a lens array, and a light-shielding member. All of the light-receiving elements are arranged in a single line having an extremity. The light-shielding member covers one or more light-receiving elements disposed at the extremity.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a plurality of light-receiving elements, a lens array, and a light-shielding member. All of the light-receiving elements are arranged in a single line having an extremity. The light-shielding member covers one or more light-receiving elements disposed at the extremity.

Abstract: A print head for which the number of bits can be set to a predetermined value when a plurality of driver ICs are connected. Data input through a data input pin is passed through an internal shift register and output through a data output pin. The data output pin of one driver IC is connected to a data input pin of another, thereby providing any desired number of shift register bits. Each driver IC has additional data output pins and can output intermediate data through one of the data output pins. Therefore, the additional data output pins can be used to change the number of significant bits of the driver IC. Consequently, when the driver ICs are connected to each other, the number of shift register bits can be adjusted.

Abstract: A thin-film type thermal print head has a resistor layer formed over an insulative substrate, a conductor layer having a specified planar pattern overlapping the resistor layer, a portion of the resistor layer serving as a heat-emitting part which is not covered by the conductor layer, and a protective layer formed over the heat-emitting part and at least a portion of the conductor layer adjacent to the heat-emitting part. The protective layer may be formed as a conductive layer with resistance greater than that of the heat-emitting part such that static electricity which may be generated by the friction with printing paper can quickly escape to the conductor layer. The protective layer may also include a wear-resisting layer of a prior art type between the conductive layer and the conductor layer, a portion of the conductive layer being preferably connected to the conductor layer. The conductive layer is preferably a mixed layer of SiC and ZrB.sub.2 containing ZrB.sub.

Abstract: In a thermal head driving integrated circuit, input serial data are converted into parallel data by a shift register. The ANDs of the parallel data obtained and a strobe signal is obtained, and transistors are driven in accordance with the ANDs. An input selection circuit determines the serial/parallel conversion timing and the transistor driving timing in accordance with the value input from select signal input terminals. The serial/parallel conversion timing and the transistor driving timing are constantly different from each other, so that latch circuits for latching the parallel data are obviated. The select signal input terminals are selectively pulled up/down.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal printing head which comprises an elongate heat sink plate, an elongate head circuit board mounted on the heat sink plate, a connector board partially overlapping the circuit board, and an elongate presser cover mounted on the heat sink plate to press the connector board into contact with the circuit board. The circuit board has a reduced number of connection terminals arranged locally at a central portion of the circuit board. The connector toward is correspondingly reduced in length. Thus, for pressing the connector board into uniform contact with the circuit board, it is only necessary to provide only a pair of pressure applying screws adjacent the central portion of the circuit board.