Abstract: The pattern forming method according to the present invention forms a film pattern on a side wall of a step in a base, such as a semiconductor substrate. The film of material used to form the film pattern is applied over the entire surface of the base including the step. The film is initially removed by anisotropic etching except at a side wall or walls of the step. The mask layer is then formed to extend over the portion of the film remaining on the side wall such that the mask extends from an upper portion to a lower portion of the step. Portions of the film remaining on the side wall are then selectively removed while using the mask layer as a mask such that a film pattern remains on the side wall.

Abstract: A PIN photodiode is composed of a lower electrode deposited on a substrate, a photoelectric transducer of PIN construction deposited on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode deposited on the photoelectric transducer. A method of fabricating the PIN photodiode is also disclosed. All of electron-and-hole pairs generated in the photoelectric transducer in response to application of light are biased by the lower and upper electrodes. These electron-and-hole pairs are quickly picked up as a current between the electrodes for detecting the light falling on the PIN photodiode.

Abstract: An optical image reader includes plural pairs of switches, each pair of switches having a CMOS structure signal switch and a CMOS structure dummy switch, plural photosensing elements each corresponding to each pair of switches, plural inverters each corresponding to each pair of switches, a signal line, a dummy line, a shift register and a differential amplifier. A first switch terminal of each signal switch is connected to the corresponding photosensing element, and a second switch terminal thereof is connected to one input terminal of the differential amplifier through the signal line. A first switch terminal of each dummy switch is connected to another input terminal of the differential amplifier through the dummy line, and a second switch terminal thereof is in an open state. A first control terminal of each signal switch is connected to a first control terminal of corresponding each dummy switch, an input terminal of the corresponding inverter, and a corresponding output terminal of the shift register.

Abstract: An image reader is adapted to read an image represented on a document. The image reader comprises a reading unit, an LEDs driving circuit, and means for moving the reading unit and the document relatively. The above reading unit comprises an LEDs array arranged in a straight line as light sources, a rod lens array for guiding the light emitted from each LED of the LEDs array and focusing the light on the document, and a pair of photosensors being disposed in parallel and connected in parallel with respect to each other for converting a reflected light from the document to a photocurrent. And each LED of the LEDs array is turned on only one at a time sequentially by means of the LEDs driving circuit, then the reading of the document is effected by means of the photosensors.

Abstract: A thermal recording system in which a thermal treated paper is printed by a thermal head having a series of aligned heat-generating resistor elements and current-holding elements like SCR (thyristor) corresponding to each of said heat-generating resistor elements for holding electric current. The power source for heating said resistor elements is a periodic voltage like a commercial alternate current (A.C.), or a pulsating current which is obtained by rectifying the commercial alternate current. The printing to each cell is accomplished within a single period of said periodic power source, and the duration of heating the resistor elements within said single period is controlled according to the peak voltage or current of the power source, in order to provide the constant concentration or density of printing. Thus, means for converting the peak value of the power source to the time delay is provided.