Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording an image using a transfer-type recording mechanism are such that a layer of an intermediate transfer element is removably formed on a surface of an intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer element includes an ultraviolet stabilizer and a powder mixture. The intermediate transfer layer is capable of being dissolved and swelled by applying an ink liquid on the intermediate transfer medium and enables a viscosity of the ink liquid residing thereon to be increased. An image is produced on the intermediate transfer medium by supplying the ink liquid thereon. The image is then transferred to the recording medium, so that a high quality image is produced without any blurring, mixing or penetration of the ink liquid.

Abstract: There is provided improvement of a light-heat conversion in a light-stimulated writing method. An image recording body includes an element, which absorbs light (electromagnetic wave), provided in a surface of a recording body 10, or in a recording layer formed on uppermost layer of the recording body having a material exhibiting thermal changeable character of wettability, or in a substrate or an intermediate layer of the recording body. After a liquid is on the recording body 10 by a liquid forming means 3, light-stimulated writing is carried out. When the light-stimulated writing is carried out with light (electromagnetic wave) from a light (electromagnetic wave) source according to image information, an efficiency of light-heat conversion can be enhanced by a light (electromagnetic wave)-absorbing element.

Abstract: An array substrate is provided for which an OS inspection can be performed without increasing the area of a signal driving circuit formed on the array substrate, and for which the manufacturing cost can be reduced. The array substrate includes a substrate, scanning lines, signal lines, pixel electrodes connected via switching elements provided at the intersections of the scanning lines and the signal lines, a plurality of input/output terminals provided at an edge portion of the substrate, a scanning line driving circuit, a signal line driving circuit for supplying picture signals sent from the outside to one ends of the signal lines via the input/output terminals, and a wiring line commonly connecting the other ends of the signal lines to at least one of the input/output terminals.

Abstract: A testing method for an array substrate is disclosed which includes a first measuring step of operating a line electrode driver circuit 15 and a row electrode driver circuit 16 like in a normal display mode while implementing writing in/reading out of a test video signal to and from supplemental capacitors 13, and a second measuring step of implementing writing in/reading out of the test video signals to and from a video bus 163 while rendering TFTs 11 of a pixel section 18 and analog switches 162 of the row electrode driver circuit 16 to be held turned off. Obtaining a difference between a measured result of the first measuring step and a measured result of the second measuring step allows only a pixel component and a row electrode component with no driver component to be derived, whereupon discrimination is implemented for the presence of or the absence of electric defects in the pixel section.

Abstract: There is provided improvement of a light-heat conversion in a light-stimulated writing method.

Abstract: A plurality of types of engine units which have nonvolatile storage units and which have different performances, respectively, can be attached to an image formation apparatus main body in a replaceable manner. A control unit which controls the performance of an overall apparatus based on information stored in the storage units provided in the engine units, respectively, which are attached to the image formation apparatus main body, is provided in the image formation apparatus main body. Therefore, even if the image formation apparatus main body is common, the performance of the overall apparatus related to recording speed or resolution can be changed only by replacing the engine units different in performance. It is also possible to easily deal with various types of apparatuses.

Abstract: Engine units (imaging units) 2C, 2M, 2Y and 2K are constituted as an integrated unit by supporting the engine units 2C, 2M, 2Y and 2K comprising a photosensitizer, an electrification unit, a development unit, a cleaning unit and the like on a supporting member. Screws are inserted in screw holes which are provided in the supporting member, and the engine units (imaging units) 2C, 2M, 2Y and 2K are detachably fixed on an image forming apparatus together with the supporting member. Thus, the image forming apparatus in which a management at reusing long life imaging units can be easily carried out is provided.

Abstract: Toner is placed on to the image-forming surface and then is transferred onto the image-carrying medium based upon adhesion force. A sharp image is formed without suffering from the dispersion of toner during the transfer process. In addition, the adhesion force-based image forming device is simpler in construction and advantageously produces substantially no ozone. One preferred embodiment transfers heat sensitive toner to an image-carrying medium by increasing the adhesion force of the toner and almost simultaneously decreasing the adhesion force of the image-forming surface with the raised temperature.

Abstract: Each of analogue switches (ASW1 to ASWn) enters a non-conductive state (namely, Off state) by using two kinds of off-voltages Vbs which are different voltages. In this state, a test signal stored in a supplemental capacity (13) is kept during a desired time period and then red it. The waveforms of the two test signals corresponding to the two kinds of the off-voltages Vbs are compared to each other. By using the comparison result, it is possible to detect a presence of off-leak defect in an array substrate fabrication process and to easily distinguish the off-leak defect from other types of defects.

Abstract: In the substrate test method of, a first test circuit is connected to an array substrate, and a signal for turning on all the thin film transistors arranged on the array substrate is supplied to a scanning line driving circuit. Also, a predetermined voltage is applied to a signal line driving circuit through signal lines so as to supply a predetermined voltage to a storage capacitor electrode. Under this condition, a high voltage sufficient for forming a potential difference higher than that in the stage of forming a storage capacitor is applied to the storage capacitor line.

Abstract: A semiconductor test circuit and a method for testing a liquid crystal display device which includes a substrate, first and second busses, signal lines, and first and second switching circuits. The test circuit includes driver circuits configured to drive the first and second semiconductor switching circuits simultaneously and detection circuits configured to detect electric properties between the first and second busses and the first and second semiconductor switching circuits when the driver circuits drive the first and second semiconductor switching elements.

Abstract: A supply cartridge contains at least two types of consumable material which are exhausted substantially at the same time over a course of ordinary image reproduction, and the supply cartridge lacks any substantial replacement part so that the supply cartridge replacement wastes no residual life of replacement hardware parts.

Abstract: To compensate for voltage level shifts on the electrode of a liquid crystal display (LCD) pixel caused by parasitic capacitances between electrodes of a switching, thin film transistor (TFT) operating to apply image signal voltages to the LCD pixel electrode, a controlled voltage is applied to a storage capacitor connected in parallel with the LCD pixel to compensate for the voltage level shifts. As a result, an LCD image display, free of flicker and brightness nonuniformities, is achieved.

Abstract: A character drawing apparatus makes reference to character drawing time data to carry out a pattern drawing process at drawing speeds controlled on the basis of the character drawing time data. Character drawing time intervals required respectively for drawing a plurality of characters can be changed simply by changing the character drawing time data so that the different characters are drawn respectively at different drawing speeds. Thus, the character drawing apparatus attracts effectively the attention of persons looking at characters being drawn and impresses effectively on such persons the information expressed by the characters being drawn.

Abstract: A contour filling apparatus comprising a display frame memory and a draft memory spatially corresponding thereto. A target shape to be displayed is filled inside by a draft filling means according to a suitable draft scan pattern. The filled shape is drawn in the draft memory. Scan coordinates specifying each dot in the draft memory and the display frame memory are generated in accordance with any of a plurality of previously provided scan patterns. If a dot specified by scan coordinates in the draft memory is found to be a dot filled by the draft filling means, that dot is drawn in the display frame memory where specified by the scan coordinates. The target shape is thus filled on a display screen of the apparatus in a desired scan pattern.

Abstract: An image forming method for forming an image as an array of picture elements one line by one line includes the steps of detecting the content of the picture elements for every three consecutive picture elements included in each line, each set of the three consecutive picture elements being defined by an aimed picture element located at an end and carrying a content to be recorded, a second picture element located adjacent to the first picture element, and a third picture element located adjacent to the second picture element at a side away from the first picture element; recording a non-blank dot for the aimed picture element while setting the size of the recorded dot at a first predetermined size, when a first condition that the second picture element of the three consecutive picture elements represents a blank dot and a second condition that the third picture element represents a non-blank dot are met simultaneously; recording a non-blank dot for the aimed picture element while setting the size of the dot a

Abstract: A conductive pattern board that comprises an electric insulation member and a plurality of electric conductive patterns. The patterns are formed on the insulation member. A recess is formed on the insulation member and between every two adjacent patterns.

Abstract: A developing apparatus operable with a toner cartridge having a flexible sack which is filled with a toner. When the toner cartridge is mounted on a developing tank included in the apparatus, the sack having been held under tension by the toner is perforated to form a hole therein. The hole causes the sack to contract rapidly due to its contactability while forcing the toner out of the sack. Then, the toner is dropped or otherwise auotmatically supplied into the developing tank. This allows the toner to be supplied without resorting to any extra manual operation after the toner cartridge has been mounted on the tank.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus of the present invention in which operation is switchable from an image pickup mode for displaying on a display apparatus an image of an object for image-taking to a coordinate input mode for inputting coordinates at a location indicated by a point indicator and vice versa, so that when the coordinate input mode is set, the duration of scanning by an image pickup element is controlled shorter than that in the case of the image pickup mode being set, whereby the duration required for image pickup during coordinate input mode operation can be reduced and speedy processing can be achieved for coordinate inputting, and which is provided with an image processing circuit for optimum image processing with respect to image signals for images taken, so that images taken in short image pickup duration during coordinate input mode can be prevented from deterioration.

Abstract: A compact printer has a sheet feeder positioned at its front wall and electrophotographic components arranged along a sheet moving path for receiving a sheet from the sheet feeder and for exposing, developing, then transferring a toner image onto the sheet. At its rear side, the printer has an image fixing unit and a discharge portion for discharging the sheet to a side output tray or onto the top wall of the printer. The discharge portion is provided with a detachably hinged, sheet turning apparatus when it is desired to discharge sheets onto the top wall, or with a detachably hinged cover with a rear opening to discharge sheets onto a rear side output tray.