Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, and a control circuit for the memory cell array. The control circuit is configured to perform a pre-read operation to read pre-selected memory cells before a read operation on target memory cells is performed and to change a read voltage to be applied to the target memory cells during the read operation based on a result of the pre-read operation.

Abstract: An apparatus is capable of switching between a mode in which a first resistance heating element and a second resistance heating element are connected in series and a mode in which they are connected in parallel. When a temperature increase rate detected by a temperature detection unit is smaller than a threshold rate although a current detected by a current detection unit is greater than a threshold current, a notification of a failure is issued.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises: a nonvolatile memory cell capable of multi-level storage; and a control circuit that performs write control on the memory cell. The control circuit executes: a first write operation to obtain a certain intermediate voltage distribution; a second write operation to obtain a final voltage distribution; and a change operation that changes a value of the first verify voltage according to the number of times of writes and the number of times of erases on the memory cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment comprises: a nonvolatile memory cell and a control circuit. The control circuit executes: a first write operation that performs a write on the memory cell using a first write voltage; a first verify operation that determines whether a threshold voltage of the memory cell exceeds a first threshold value due to the first write operation, or not; a second verify operation that re-determines on the memory cell that has passed the first verify operation whether the threshold voltage exceeds the first threshold value, or not; and a second write operation that performs a write on the memory cell that has not passed the second verify operation, using a second write voltage.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a fixing unit of including a heater and fixing a toner image formed on a recording material onto this recording material, the heater including a first heat generating member and a second heat-generating member, a first driving element provided on a power supply path to the first heat-generating member; a second driving element provided on a power supply path to the second heat generating member, a control unit controlling the first driving element and the second driving element respectively, first detection unit for detecting current flowing through the first heat-generating member, a second detection unit of detecting current flowing through the second heat-generating member, and a safety circuit receiving a first output of the first detection unit and a second output of the second detection unit.

Abstract: One disclosed aspect of the embodiments relates to power control of a heater in a fixing unit. A plurality of control tables having different ratios of phase control waveforms and wave number control waveforms in one control cycle have been set, and a control table is selected depending on a set target temperature.

Abstract: A spool valve includes a sleeve and a filter. The sleeve includes an annular groove and a port. The annular groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve. The port is formed on a bottom surface of the annular groove, and fluid passes through the port. The filter is disposed to be wound cylindrically in the annular groove, and filters the fluid passing through the port. The sleeve further includes a wound part that is a filter attachment surface on which the filter is wound in the annular groove. The wound part includes a shape change part that changes a shape of a part of the filter having a cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A heater used for a fixing device includes a substrate, first and second conductor patterns formed at either end of the substrate in the short direction of the substrate, a third conductor pattern formed between the first and second conductor patterns and separated from the two conductor patterns, a first heating member disposed between the first and third conductor patterns and electrically connected to the two conductor patterns, and a second heating member disposed between the second and third conductor patterns and electrically connected to the conductor patterns. The heater has both end regions in which the widths of the third conductor pattern in the short direction is smaller than that of a middle portion of the third conductor pattern. The widths of the first and second heating members in the end regions are smaller than the widths of the first and second heating members in the other region, respectively.

Abstract: In order to suppress excessive temperature rise at a non-sheet-passing region while suppressing the deterioration of fixability in case of heating small size sheets, a heater includes a first heat-generation line and a second heat-generation line, which are independently controllable, wherein the first heat-generation line is configured so that a plurality of heat-generation resistors having positive resistance-temperature characteristics is electrically connected in parallel to each other between a first electro-conductive element and a second electro-conductive element, and the heat-generation resistors are adjusted so that a heat-generation amount per unit length of the first heat-generation line in a lengthwise direction of the heater decreases from a recording material conveyance reference towards a end portion in the lengthwise direction, and an image heating device having the heater.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a heater in which uniformity of a temperature distribution in a widthwise direction of the heater can be improved while inhibiting a temperature rise of a non-sheet-passing part, and an image heating device equipped with the heater. In a first heat-generation line and a second heat-generation line, a plurality of heat-generation resistors including positive resistance-temperature characteristics between two electro-conductive elements provided on a substrate along the lengthwise direction of the substrate are connected in parallel. The first heat-generation line and the second heat-generation line are connected in parallel.

Abstract: The heater is capable of improving heat generation uniformity in a sheet feeding area while suppressing the temperature rise of a non-sheet feeding portion. Each of heat generation lines includes a plurality of heat blocks in which a plurality of heat generating resistors are electrically connected in parallel between two conductive members. The heat generation lines are arranged in a lateral direction of the substrate, and the heat blocks are arranged so that the end of the heat block in the heat generation line of a first row does not overlap with the end of the heat block in the heat generation line of a second row in a longitudinal direction of a heater.

Abstract: An image heating device includes, a moving member configured to move while contacting a recording material at one surface of the moving member, a backup member configured to contact the other surface of the moving member, a holding member configured to hold the backup member, a nip portion forming member contacting the one surface of the moving member, and configured to form a nip portion in corporation with the backup member via the moving member, and a high thermal conductive member held between the holding member and the backup member, wherein the recording material on which an image has been formed is heated by heat received from the moving member while being nipped and conveyed at the nip portion, and wherein the holding member includes a recessed portion configured not to apply pressure to the high thermal conductive member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater; a supporting member for supporting the heater; a high heat-conductive sheet sandwiched between a part of the heater and the supporting member. A recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member includes a bearing surface contacting the sheet so as to apply pressure between the heater and the sheet and includes an opposing portion opposing a part of the heater not sandwiching the sheet. In a state in which the pressure is applied between the heater and the sheet, a thickness of the sheet is not less than a height of the stepped portion between the bearing portion and the opposing portion.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus can be used in areas having different power supply voltages, in which a failure of the apparatus can be detected so that reliability of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus includes a connection state switching part which switches connection of a first heat generating member and a second heat generating member, which generate heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power supply through a power supply path, between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, and a current detection part which detects current flowing in the power supply path. The current detection part is disposed in the power supply path after branching toward the first heat generating member and the second heat generating member in the parallel connection state.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus can be used in areas having different power supply voltages, in which a failure of the apparatus can be detected so that reliability of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus includes a connection state switching part which switches connection of a first heat generating member and a second heat generating member, which generate heat by electric power supplied from a commercial power supply through a power supply path, between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, and a current detection part which detects current flowing in the power supply path. The current detection part is disposed in the power supply path after branching toward the first heat generating member and the second heat generating member in the parallel connection state.

Abstract: This nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises: a word line connected to a control gate; a bit line electrically connected to one end of a NAND cell unit; a source line electrically connected to the other end of the NAND cell unit; and a control circuit that controls a voltage applied to a semiconductor layer, the control gate, the bit line, and the source line. The control circuit is configured to, when performing a write verify operation for determining whether a write operation has been completed or not after finishing the write operation, temporarily raise a voltage of the bit line or the source line to a light erase voltage which is higher than a voltage applied to the bit line or the source line during the write verify operation.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes first and second lines having a first and second heat generation blocks, the first and second lines being disposed at different positions in a transverse direction, wherein the first and second lines are arranged so that a whole of first heat generation block in the first line and a whole of second heat generation block in the second line overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction, and a whole of second heat generation block in the first line and a whole of first heat generation block in the second line overlap with each other in the longitudinal direction. By the virtue of the present invention, it achieves to be capable of suppressing a temperature rise in a non-sheet feeding area in a case of printing a sheet smaller in size than a maximum size supported by the image heating apparatus.

Abstract: The heating apparatus includes a first detection part which detects whether or not the power supplied to the heat generation member is in an overpower state by detecting a positive phase of a half wave in an alternating voltage of a commercial power supply applied to the first or the second current path of the heat generation member, a second detection part which detects whether the power supplied to the heat generation member is in an overpower state or not by detecting a negative phase of a half wave in an alternating voltage the commercial power supply applied to the first current path or the second current path of the heat generation member, and a control part which controls itself to stop supplying power from the commercial power supply to the heat generation member in a case where an overpower state is detected by the first or second detection part.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes first and heat generation member, a connection state switching section switching the first and second heat generation members between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, the connection state switching section having a first make-or-break-contact relay and a second transfer-contact relay, a drive element provided used for controlling power supplied to the first and second heat generation members, and a capacitor between a power supply path closer to the side of the first and second heat generation members rather than the first relay and a power supply path closer to the commercial power supply side rather than the drive element. The image heating apparatus can suppress an increase in noise level of a noise terminal voltage by performing power control on the heater.