Abstract: A flag set may comprise a pole (10) and a plurality of flag units (20a, 20b) that can be attached to the pole (10) at different angles with respect to the pole (10). A support arm (30) may hold the top edges of the plurality of flag units (20a, 20b). An attachment part (40) is provided at the top of the pole (10) and may include attachment slits (47) and attachment grooves (48) that open upward so that the support arm (30) can be inserted from the top. A fastening part (50) anchors the support arm (30) to the attachment slits (47) and attachment grooves (48). The fastening part (50) is attached to the attachment part (40) after the support arm (30) is inserted into the attachment slits (47) and attachment grooves (48) to lock these parts together.

Abstract: A data managing device according to the present invention processes the same object pixel before and after variable magnification processing, and collectively manages processing data before and after the variable magnification processing by making access to a memory once. In the variable magnification processing before and after which the number of object pixels differs, 1-bit BF data for area separation processing performed before the variable magnification processing and 7-bit produced error data for error diffusion processing performed after the variable magnification processing are mixed, and data composed of a total of 8 bits which is obtained by the mixing is read out/written from and to the same address in a SRAM 4 at the same access timing. Therefore, at the time of reduction processing, a reduction processing control signal SMWAIT is produced, and error diffusion processing is stopped when the signal is at a high level.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a quadratic differential values is first calculated, based on differences in the density data between an object pixel and respective peripheral pixels around the object pixel. The square value SS of the quadratic differential value S and the sum .SIGMA.SS obtained by adding up the square values SS of quadratic differential values for continuous five pixels are employed as determination values (step n1). The square sum .SIGMA.SS is compared with respective threshold values a, b and d, and the square value SS is compared with respective threshold values c, e and f (steps n2 to n6 and n8). Based on these comparison results, it is judged which image area among a character image area, gray-scale image area and dotted image area the object pixel belongs to.

Abstract: A basic clock generated from a crystal oscillator is delayed by a constant time in each of a plurality of delay elements connected in series. Consequently, internal clocks which differ in phase by a predetermined amount are outputted from the delay elements. Output signals of the delay elements are inputted to a clock selector. The clock selector selects any one of the internal clocks on the basis of a beam detection signal indicating the timing of the scanning of a photoreceptor by a laser beam to output the same as a video clock. The clock selector selects any one internal clock whose phase difference from the beam detection signal is closest to a predetermined phase difference out of the internal clocks, the phase difference from the beam detection signal meaning the time difference between the time when the beam detection signal has a predetermined phase angle and the time when the internal clock has a predetermined phase angle.

Abstract: A positive characteristic thermistor, in which the outer periphery of a first electrode including a metal other than silver as its main component is positioned on the inside of the outer periphery of the main body of this thermistor, and is made to coincide with the outer periphery of a second electrode which includes silver as its main component and formed on the first electrode or to be placed on the inside of the periphery of the second electrode.

Abstract: A multistep electronic cooler developed for the purpose of minimizing the incoming heat quantity generated by convective heat transfer and radiant heat transfer with a simple structure and bringing the maximum achievable cooling temperature to a level lower than that in a conventional electronic cooler of this kind at a low cost. The multistep electronic cooler according to the present invention has a plurality of base plates (3) arranged as cooling plates in tiers within a vacuum container (5), a plurality of pairs of semiconductors (2) arranged between the base plates via a plurality of electrodes (4) bonded to the base plates, and one layer, at least, or more of heat shielding members (7a, 7b, 7c) covering spaces above the base plates (3). The surfaces of the parts assembled to form the multistep electronic cooler are coated with a substance having a low thermal emissivity, for example, gold.

Abstract: A data generator generates input data for a pulse generator from source data corresponding to a desired pulse width in order to make the pulse generator generate an output pulse having the desired pulse width. In the data generator, the source data are converted into the input data for the pulse generator based on a predetermined conversion relation; the predetermined conversion relation is varied; the width of an output pulse of the pulse generator is compared with that of a calibration pulse having a predetermined pulse width; and a conversion relation between calibration source data corresponding to a pulse width of the calibration pulse and the input data is maintained when the width of the output coincides with that of the calibration pulse.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of manufacturing thermoelectric material which has the steps of quenching a thermoelectric alloy in a molten state at a quenching rate higher than 10.sup.3 .degree. C./sec into a membrane or powdery form and subjecting the membrane or powder to cold-forming or sintering. The thermoelectric alloy is a Bi--Sb series alloy having a composition represented by{(Bi.sub.100-x .multidot.Sb.sub.x).sub.100-y .multidot.E.sup.II.sub.y }.sub.100-z .multidot.E.sup.I.sub.zwhere E.sup.I represents a group III or group IV element, E.sup.II represents a group IV or group VI element, x represents a number of 5-20, y represents an integer of 0-20 and z represents a number of 0.05-10, respectively.