Abstract: When a photocurrent is detected by irradiating a main light reflected on a manuscript and a biasing light, on a photo-sensing device, the material of the photo-sensing device of the present invention has a response characteristic of a photocurrent to time, a rise characteristic of the response characteristic being S-shaped, and thereby to obtain a superior response characteristic of the photo-sensing device.

Abstract: A thermal printing head of the planar type which comprises a silicon substrate, a plurality of heat-generating elements provided in the silicon substrate and a heat-insulation layer of silicon dioxide which is provided around each heat-generating element. The heat-insulation layer of silicon dioxide has an excellent heat-insulation characteristic, so that heat which is generated from the heat-generating elements is prevented from flowing to neighboring heat-generating elements whereby distinct patterns can be printed on a thermosensitive paper.

Abstract: A semiconductor piezoresistive strain transducer having a reduced neck with an hour-glass configuration interconnecting two pads, wherein the reduced neck and the pads have configurations the relation between which prevents corner tips of the pads from coming into contact with a surface of the slender center region of the reduced neck and producing a micro-defect on it, whereby the danger of breaking at the reduced neck is reduced.