Abstract: A heater (A1) includes a substrate (1), a heating resistor (2) formed on the substrate (1) and an electrode (3) electrically connected to the heating resistor (2) and containing a metal component. The heater (A1) further includes a diffusion prevention layer (4) which is held in contact with at least part of the electrode (3) and prevents the metal component from diffusing from the electrode (3). By preventing the diffusion of the metal component from the electrode (3) to the heating resistor (2), the separation of the heating resistor (2) and the electrode (3) is prevented.

Abstract: A heater (A1) includes a substrate (1), a heating resistor (2) formed on the substrate (1) and a protective film (3) covering the heating resistor (2). The protective film (3) includes a crystallized glass layer (31) and an amorphous glass layer (33) covering the crystallized glass layer (31). The protective film (3) further includes a semi-crystalline glass layer (32) surrounding an edge (31a) of the crystallized glass layer (32). The semi-crystalline glass layer (32) intervenes between the substrate (1) and a portion of the amorphous glass layer (33) that projects relative to the crystallized glass layer (31).

Abstract: A toner-fixing heater includes a substrate elongated in a first direction, a resistor formed on the substrate, a wiring portion connected with the resistor, and a protective film covering the resistor. The resistor includes two belt-like portions elongated in the first direction and spaced away from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The resistor or the wiring portion includes a conductive portion for passing an electric current in the second direction. The conductive portion may have an edge extending in nonparallel to the first direction and the second direction, or may include a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer, where the first layer is closer to the substrate than the second layer, and the edges of the second layer are located inward of the edges of the first layer as viewed in the first direction.

Abstract: A thermal head (A) according to the present invention includes a substrate (1) on which a heat-producing resistor (5), a common electrode (3) and individual electrodes (4) for energizing the heat-producing resistor (5), and a protective layer (6) having a double-layer structure and formed on the heat-producing resistor (5) to cover at least the heat-producing resistor are provided. A second protective layer (6B) constituting the upper layer of the protective layer (6) is conductive, and a first protective layer (6A) constituting the lower layer of the protective layer (6) has thickness (t1) which is not less than three times the thickness (t2) of the second protective layer (6B).

Abstract: A heating unit includes an AlN substrate having a main surface on which an elongated heat-generating resistor is provided. A protection layer is formed on the main surface of the substrate for the heat-generating resistor. The protection layer includes a first cover layer covering the heat-generating resistor and a second cover layer covering the first cover layer. The first cover layer is made of crystallized or semi-crystallized glass having a higher crystallization temperature by at least 50° C. than the softening point of the glass. The second cover layer is made of non-crystalline glass.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes an insulating substrate and a heating resistor element (3) formed on the substrate and elongated in the primary scanning direction. A plurality of electrodes are connected to the heating resistor element (3). The electrodes and the heating resistor element (3) are covered by a protective film (4). The protective film (4) includes a first layer (41), a second layer (42) and a third layer (43). The second layer (42) is porous and includes a plurality of pores (42a). The third layer (43) partially enters each of the pores (42a) so that the upper surface pf the protective film (4) is an irregular surface including a plurality or recesses (4a).

Abstract: A heater (A1) includes a substrate (1), a heating resistor (2) formed on the substrate (1) and a protective film (3) covering the heating resistor (2). The protective film (3) includes a crystallized glass layer (31) and an amorphous glass layer (33) covering the crystallized glass layer (31). The protective film (3) further includes a semi-crystalline glass layer (32) surrounding an edge (31a) of the crystallized glass layer (32) The semi-crystalline glass layer (32) intervenes between the substrate (1) and a portion of the amorphous glass layer (33) that projects relative to the crystallized glass layer (31).

Abstract: A heater (A1) includes a substrate (1), a heating resistor (2) formed on the substrate (1) and an electrode (3) electrically connected to the heating resistor (2) and containing a metal component. The heater (A1) further includes a diffusion prevention layer (4) which is held in contact with at least part of the electrode (3) and prevents the metal component from diffusing from the electrode (3). By preventing the diffusion of the metal component from the electrode (3) to the heating resistor (2), the separation of the heating resistor (2) and the electrode (3) is prevented.

Abstract: A fixing heater (A2) includes an insulating substrate (1), a heating resistor (2) formed on the substrate, and a pair of electrodes (4) each of which overlaps a respective one of two ends of the heating resistor. The heating resistor (2) contains Ag—Pd and crystallized glass. Each of the electrodes (4) contains glass of the same composition as the crystallized glass. When the proportion by weight of the crystallized glass in the heating resistor (2) is represented by x, the proportion y by weight of Pd in the Ag—Pd satisfies ?0.091x+0.50?y??0.091x+0.57.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A1) includes an insulating substrate and a heating resistor element (3) formed on the substrate and elongated in the primary scanning direction. A plurality of electrodes are connected to the heating resistor element (3). The electrodes and the heating resistor element (3) are covered by a protective film (4). The protective film (4) includes a first layer (41), a second layer (42) and a third layer (43). The second layer (42) is porous and includes a plurality of pores (42a). The third layer (43) partially enters each of the pores (42a) so that the upper surface pf the protective film (4) is an irregular surface including a plurality or recesses (4a).

Abstract: A thermal head (A) according to the present invention includes a substrate (1) on which a heat-producing resistor (5), a common electrode (3) and individual electrodes (4) for energizing the heat-producing resistor (5), and a protective layer (6) having a double-layer structure and formed on the heat-producing resistor (5) to cover at least the heat-producing resistor are provided. A second protective layer (6B) constituting the upper layer of the protective layer (6) is conductive, and a first protective layer (6A) constituting the lower layer of the protective layer (6) has thickness (t1) which is not less than three times the thickness (t2) of the second protective layer (6B).

Abstract: A toner-fixing heater includes a substrate elongated in a first direction, a resistor formed on the substrate, a wiring portion connected with the resistor, and a protective film covering the resistor. The resistor includes two belt-like portions elongated in the first direction and spaced away from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The resistor or the wiring portion includes a conductive portion for passing an electric current in the second direction. The conductive portion may have an edge extending in nonparallel to the first direction and the second direction, or may include a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer, where the first layer is closer to the substrate than the second layer, and the edges of the second layer are located inward of the edges of the first layer as viewed in the first direction.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A) according to the present invention includes a heating resistor (5) formed on a substrate (1), an electrode (3) for energizing the heating resistor (5), and a protection film (6) for covering the heating resistor (5) and the electrode (3). The protection film (6) has a surface with a ten-point mean roughness of no smaller than 0.2 ?m.

Abstract: A heating unit includes an AlN substrate having a main surface on which an elongated heat-generating resistor is provided. A protection layer is formed on the main surface of the substrate for the heat-generating resistor. The protection layer includes a first cover layer covering the heat-generating resistor and a second cover layer covering the first cover layer. The first cover layer is made of crystallized or semi-crystallized glass having a higher crystallization temperature by at least 50° C. than the softening point of the glass. The second cover layer is made of non-crystalline glass.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (A) according to the present invention includes a heating resistor (5) formed on a substrate (1), an electrode (3) for energizing the heating resistor (5), and a protection film (6) for covering the heating resistor (5) and the electrode (3). The protection film (6) has a surface with a ten-point mean roughness of no smaller than 0.2 ?m.

Abstract: A fixing heater includes a substrate, a relatively narrow first heating resistor strip formed on the substrate, and a relatively wide second heating resistor strip formed on the substrate substantially in parallel to the first heating resistor strip. The second heating resistor strip is formed with a plurality of slits extending longitudinally of the strip.

Abstract: A fixing heater includes a substrate, a relatively narrow first heating resistor strip formed on the substrate, and a relatively wide second heating resistor strip formed on the substrate substantially in parallel to the first heating resistor strip. The second heating resistor strip is formed with a plurality of slits extending longitudinally of the strip.

Abstract: A heater for fusing toner images onto recording paper is provided. The heater includes a supporting base that has an upper surface and a lower surface. The base has a relatively low thermal conductivity. The heater also includes a heating element formed on the upper surface of the base. A heat conductor is provided on the upper or lower side of the base. The heat conductor has a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the base.

Abstract: An image sensor according to the present invention includes a casing (4), a light source disposed in the casing (4) for emitting light toward an object (K) to be read, and an image sensor board (6) provided, on an obverse surface thereof, with a plurality of light receiving elements (52) for generating image signals upon receiving light reflected by the object (K). The image sensor board (6) is disposed so that the obverse surface thereof is directed inwardly of the casing (4). The substrate (6) is provided with a light shielding layer (61) for covering the reverse surface of the substrate at least entirely over a portion of the obverse surface where the plurality of light receiving elements (52) are mounted, so that disturbing external light is prevented from entering inside the casing (4).

Abstract: A thermal printhead includes a substrate, an electrode layer formed on the substrate, and a heating resistor which is formed on the electrode layer and contains a conductive substance and glass. The conductive substance of the heating resistor is doped in advance with an insulating substance which is identical in crystalline structure to the conductive substance. The heating resistor is formed by mixing powder of the insulating substance, which is identical in crystalline structure to the conductive substance, with the conductive substance powder, baking the obtained mixture, pulverizing the baked mixture, mixing the pulverized mixture with glass powder to prepare a resistor paste, and printing and baking the obtained resistor paste.