Abstract: A drift layer has a SJ structure with a parallel pn layer; an n+-type buffer layer is between the parallel pn layer and an n++-type drain layer. An impurity concentration of the n+-type buffer layer is adjusted to be at least equal to that of n-type column regions of the parallel pn layer, to be relatively low in a portion facing the parallel pn layer and approach the impurity concentration of the n-type column regions, and to increase closer to the n++-type drain layer. The impurity concentration of the n+-type buffer layer is adjusted so that an impurity concentration difference between the n+-type buffer layer and the n++-type drain layer near the border between the n+-type buffer layer and the n++-type drain layer is as small as possible. An impurity concentration distribution of the n+-type buffer layer is formed by stacking n+-type buffer layers in descending order of impurity concentration from the n++-type drain layer.

Abstract: A method and system for easily predicting a remaining lifetime of a hose are provided. A hose remaining lifetime prediction method and a hose remaining lifetime prediction system, for predicting a remaining lifetime of a hose 1 in use, include obtaining in advance, for a hose of the same type, relationship between use time of an inner tubular rubber layer 11 at a reference temperature and a physical property value of rubber forming the inner tubular rubber layer 11, generating a thermal degradation model for the inner tubular rubber layer 11, calculating, for the hose 1 in use, reference temperature use time being use time of the inner tubular rubber layer 11 at the reference temperature until a time of the prediction, and predicting the remaining lifetime of the hose 1 in use, based on comparison between the reference temperature use time and the thermal degradation model.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a high radiation tolerance is provided. A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first body region and a second body region provided on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a neck portion provided between the first body region and the second body region, a first source region formed within the first body region and a second source region formed within the second body region, a first gate electrode provided to face the first body region between the first source region and the neck portion, a second gate electrode provided to face the second body region between the second source region and the neck portion, and an insulating film continuously provided between the first gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, between the second gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and on the front surface side of the neck portion, is provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a high radiation tolerance is provided. A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first body region and a second body region provided on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a neck portion provided between the first body region and the second body region, a first source region formed within the first body region and a second source region formed within the second body region, a first gate electrode provided to face the first body region between the first source region and the neck portion, a second gate electrode provided to face the second body region between the second source region and the neck portion, and an insulating film continuously provided between the first gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, between the second gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and on the front surface side of the neck portion, is provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a high radiation tolerance is provided. A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first body region and a second body region provided on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a neck portion provided between the first body region and the second body region, a first source region formed within the first body region and a second source region formed within the second body region, a first gate electrode provided to face the first body region between the first source region and the neck portion, a second gate electrode provided to face the second body region between the second source region and the neck portion, and an insulating film continuously provided between the first gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, between the second gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and on the front surface side of the neck portion, is provided.

Abstract: A set of adjustment pattern images includes first adjustment pattern images and second adjustment pattern images to be formed on a first side and a second side of a recording sheet, respectively, by an image forming apparatus. The set of adjustment pattern images is employed to adjust an image forming position by the image forming apparatus such that an image forming position of the first adjustment pattern images is aligned with an image forming position of the second adjustment pattern images. The set of adjustment pattern images includes at least two first adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other and at least two second adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other, and the first adjustment pattern images on the first side and the second adjustment pattern images on the second side are arranged alternately with each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a high radiation tolerance is provided. A semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, a first body region and a second body region provided on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a neck portion provided between the first body region and the second body region, a first source region formed within the first body region and a second source region formed within the second body region, a first gate electrode provided to face the first body region between the first source region and the neck portion, a second gate electrode provided to face the second body region between the second source region and the neck portion, and an insulating film continuously provided between the first gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, between the second gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and on the front surface side of the neck portion, is provided.

Abstract: In a registration step, the temperature near a polygon mirror (83) is detected by a first temperature sensor (85), and the internal ambient temperature of an image forming apparatus (1) is detected by a second temperature sensor (86). Also, a registration adjustment value of each color is determined and stored in a memory (75). In a printing step, the registration adjustment value (A) of each color determined in the registration step is corrected based on a change in the temperature near the polygon mirror (83) and a change in the internal ambient temperature of the image forming apparatus (1). Furthermore, the write timing of an electrostatic latent image onto each photosensitive drum (13) by an optical scanning device (11) is controlled. Then, the position of the electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum (13) is shifted by an amount corresponding to the corrected registration adjustment value.

Abstract: A set of adjustment pattern images includes first adjustment pattern images and second adjustment pattern images to be formed on a first side and a second side of a recording sheet, respectively, by an image forming apparatus. The set of adjustment pattern images is employed to adjust an image forming position by the image forming apparatus such that an image forming position of the first adjustment pattern images is aligned with an image forming position of the second adjustment pattern images. The set of adjustment pattern images includes at least two first adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other and at least two second adjustment pattern images that are spaced from each other, and the first adjustment pattern images on the first side and the second adjustment pattern images on the second side are arranged alternately with each other.

Abstract: According to a color image forming apparatus, a plurality of detection patterns respectively corresponding to a plurality of colors are formed from a plurality of photosensitive body units respectively corresponding to the plurality of colors onto a transfer member in a sub-scanning direction of the transfer member, intervals between detection patterns adjacent to each other in the sub-scanning direction among the plurality of formed detection patterns are detected, and adjustment of color misalignment is performed based on the detected intervals. The plurality of detection patterns have the same size and the same shape. In this color image forming apparatus, the adjustment of color misalignment is performed using at least two types of data of detection images having different intervals as data of detection images including the plurality of detection patterns.

Abstract: In a registration step, the temperature near a polygon mirror (83) is detected by a first temperature sensor (85), and the internal ambient temperature of an image forming apparatus (1) is detected by a second temperature sensor (86). Also, a registration adjustment value of each color is determined and stored in a memory (75). In a printing step, the registration adjustment value (A) of each color determined in the registration step is corrected based on a change in the temperature near the polygon mirror (83) and a change in the internal ambient temperature of the image forming apparatus (1). Furthermore, the write timing of an electrostatic latent image onto each photosensitive drum (13) by an optical scanning device (11) is controlled. Then, the position of the electrostatic latent image on each photosensitive drum (13) is shifted by an amount corresponding to the corrected registration adjustment value.

Abstract: In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.

Abstract: In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.

Abstract: In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.

Abstract: A charging device includes a long electrode, a cleaning member, a timing device, a drive source, a load measuring device, and a control device. The drive source moves the cleaning member in the outward direction for a first time period after the outward passage time and then reverses the cleaning member in the homeward position. The load measuring device measures driving load imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved. The control device controls motion of the drive source to turn the cleaning member from the outward direction to the homeward direction at a predetermined objective point near the second end, based on sum of driving loads imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved from the first point to a second point located along the outward direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for executing image forming process on a page by page basis including: a toner image forming section for producing a visible image formed of toner as a toner image on an image carrier; a transfer section which performs a transfer process for transferring the formed toner image onto a recording medium; a cleaning section which removes toner remaining on the image carrier after the transfer process; a waste toner storing section in which the removed toner is accumulated; and a waste toner amount detecting section which detects an amount of the toner accumulated in the waste toner storing section on the basis of at least three detection levels.

Abstract: A motor comprises a stator having a stator core and a stator winding wound on the stator core and integrally molded with insulation resin, a rotor provided with a shaft, a first bearing and a second bearing for supporting the shaft, a bracket connected to the stator and retaining at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing, and a conductive member short-circuiting between the stator core and the bracket.

Abstract: A charging device includes a long electrode, a cleaning member, a timing device, a drive source, a load measuring device, and a control device. The drive source moves the cleaning member in the outward direction for a first time period after the outward passage time and then reverses the cleaning member in the homeward position. The load measuring device measures driving load imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved. The control device controls motion of the drive source to turn the cleaning member from the outward direction to the homeward direction at a predetermined objective point near the second end, based on sum of driving loads imposed on the drive source while the cleaning member is being moved from the first point to a second point located along the outward direction.

Abstract: In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.

Abstract: A ballast for an electrodeless discharge lamp includes a high frequency power supply that supplies a high frequency electric power to an induction coil for operating the lamp. A dimmer controller generates a control signal in response to a dimmer command designating a varying dimming ratio. The control signal defines a first period Ton in which the power supply is controlled to apply a coil voltage of a first level V1 to the induction coil for operating the lamp. The first period is followed by a second period Toff in which the power supply is controlled to apply the coil voltage of a second level V2 that is lower than the first level and fails to sustain the lamp. The control signal defines, between the second period and the first period, a starting period Tst in which the coil voltage increases continuously for smooth transition from an off-condition to an on-condition of the lamp.