Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing unit, an image processing system, and an image processing method capable of achieving a higher speed and a higher efficiency in a rendering and implementing a low cost of the system. The image processing unit according to the present invention comprises a main storing portion for storing information of three-dimensional objects, a plurality of calculating portions for processing images based on three-dimensional object information which are read from the main storing portion, and a hierarchical storing portion having a plurality of hierarchies and connected between the main storing portion and the plurality of calculating portions to store a part of information at a lower level into a higher level sequentially, wherein image processing by the plurality of calculating portions are performed in parallel.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device, including a first substrate of a first conductivity type, a first bonding layer provided on said first substrate and consisting essentially of a GaP material of the first conductivity type, a second bonding layer provided on the first bonding layer, coincident with the first bonding layer in a crystal orientation, having the first conductivity type, and consisting essentially of a material represented by a formula InxGayP, where 0≦x, y≦1, and x+y=1, and a light-emitting layer comprising a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer, which are successively provided on the second bonding layer, each of the active layer and first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of a material represented by a formula InxGayAlzP, where x+y+z=1, and 0≦x, y, z≦1.

Abstract: The transfer sheet comprises a support and a transfer layer capable of separating from the support and of fixing a toner image formed by an electrophotographic printer, wherein an average value of a surface roughness of the transfer layer is 0.5 to 3.5 &mgr;m. The transfer layer may comprise a thermoplastic resin and a fine particle. A weight ratio of the thermoplastic resin to the fine particle is about 50/50 to 99/1. The thermoplastic resin may be a thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin, and the fine particle may be a polyethylene fine particle having a mean particle size of about 1 to 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has an unfixed toner image forming device, and a fixing device, wherein a toner amount of the unfixed toner image forming device is smaller than a toner amount of the unfixed toner image formed on a second recording material having a thickness smaller than that of the first recording material by the unfixed toner image forming device. The image forming apparatus is thus able to form a good image on a thick recording.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device, including a first substrate of a first conductivity type, a first bonding layer provided on the first substrate and consisting essentially of a GaP material of the first conductivity type, a second bonding layer provided on the first bonding layer, coincident with the first bonding layer in the planar direction of the crystal, having the first conductivity type, and consisting essentially of a material represented by a formula InxGayP, where 0≦x, y≦1, and x+y=1, and a light-emitting layer comprising a first cladding layer, an active layer, and a second cladding layer, which are successively provided on the second bonding layer, each of the active layer and first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of a material represented by a formula InxGayAlzP, where x+y+z=1, and 0≦x, y, z≦1.

Abstract: The transfer sheet comprises a support and a transfer layer capable of separating from the support and of fixing a toner image formed by an electrophotographic printer, wherein an average value of a surface roughness of the transfer layer is 0.5 to 3.5 &mgr;m. The transfer layer may comprise a thermoplastic resin and a fine particle. A weight ratio of the thermoplastic resin to the fine particle is about 50/50 to 99/1. The thermoplastic resin may be a thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin, and the fine particle may be a polyethylene fine particle having a mean particle size of about 1 to 100 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A compound semiconductor light emitting element includes a light emitting region formed by a pn-junction between a first compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and a second compound semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type. A first electrode is connected to the first compound semiconductor layer and is isolated from the second compound semiconductor layer. A current spreading layer is formed on the second compound semiconductor layer and a block is formed on the second compound semiconductor layer. A second electrode is formed on the block and is connected to the current spreading layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a good image can be formed even on a thick recording through-out. The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that has unfixed toner image forming means, and fixing means, wherein a toner amount of the unfixed toner image forming means is smaller than a toner amount of the unfixed toner image formed on a second recording material having a thickness smaller than that of the first recording material by the unfixed toner image forming means.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a document scanning unit which can be shifted while illuminating an original and which is shifted backwardly at a speed faster than a speed when said document scanning unit is shifted forwardly to scan the original, and a control unit which lowers the electric power supplied to an image fixing means when the document scanning unit is shifted backwardly.

Abstract: When an image is adjusted to compensate for individual differences among image forming units, there are cases where a phenomenon occurs in which a contour that is originally non-existent appears in a low-density portion, namely an area other than that where the output density characteristic is linear. In such instances image quality deteriorates markedly when importance is placed upon tonality. To solve this problem, a printer is caused to print an image diagnostic pattern, the image diagnostic pattern that has been printed is read by a reader and the linear portion of the output density characteristic of a design center value and the linear portion of the read output density characteristic are approximated by straight lines. Both of the output density characteristics are compared and image adjustment coefficients A, B are compared. The coefficients A, B thus obtained are set in a primary converter and gamma tables in a gamma converter are changed over in conformity with the values of the coefficients A, B.

Abstract: In an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration cycle is formed by annularly connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator with one another, the apparatus uses propane, isobutane or ethane as a refrigerant, and uses refrigerating machine oil having less mutual solubility with the refrigerant, and a dryer is provided in the refrigeration cycle for absorbing water. In stead of the dryer, an additive which reacts with water may be included in said refrigerating machine oil. With this arrangement, the amount of the refrigerant can be reduced, and the long term reliability of the apparatus can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for taking custody of, transporting and installing an air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the outdoor unit is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle.

Abstract: In a compressor of a refrigeration cycle using an HC-based refrigerant and a lubricant having specific gravity greater than that of the HC-based refrigerant and having no or no or less mutual solubility with the HC-based refrigerant, an oil reservoir is formed on a bottom of the compressor, the oil reservoir is provided at its portion with a recess, a suction port of a lubricant suction pipe for supplying the lubricant to a compressor mechanism is provided in the recess. With this feature, it is possible to sufficiently supply the lubricant to the compressor even when the lubricant has no or less mutual solubility, so that even if the amount of the lubricant is reduced, the lubricant can be sufficiently sucked from an inlet port of a lubricant pumping pipe and supplied to the compressor mechanism.

Abstract: A current blocking layer (7) formed immediately below a transparent electrode (9) is formed of a semiconductor layer containing Al, and a bandgap equal to or longer than the emission wavelength. Since the current blocking layer (7) is formed of such semiconductor layer, an oxide film forms on or near the surface of the current blocking layer (7) in a process of forming the transparent electrode (9) such as an ITO film containing oxygen, and the current blocking layer functions effectively. The diameter of a bonding electrode (20) is set to be smaller than that of the current blocking layer (7), thus effectively outputting the light emitted. Furthermore, the oxidized current blocking layer can have a high breakdown voltage and, hence, can be formed to have a small thickness, thus improving step coverage upon forming the transparent electrode on the current blocking layer. By inserting a thin Zn layer (8) between the transparent electrode (9) and an ohmic layer (6), the adhesion therebetween can be improved.

Abstract: For use in a copying apparatus or the like, there is provided an image heating apparatus having a first heater, a second heater, and a power supply control device for controlling the power supply to the first and second heaters, wherein the power supply control unit is adapted, in case of power supply to both of the first and second heaters, to at first start power supply to the first heater and then to the second heater, and, in case of power supply again to both of the first and second heaters, to at first start power supply to the second heater and then to the first heater.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for subjecting input image data to a density conversion includes three dot isolation circuits which subject the pixels on each of a plurality of lines adjoining in the sub-scan direction to a density conversion in accordance with a different predetermined conversion characteristic (LUT) for each line. Though each dot separation circuit deals with a different number of lines of image data to undergo a density conversion, the predetermined conversion characteristics can be set in advance in such a manner that the density values of a plurality of pixels on adjoining line will be preserved if an overall view of the reproduced image is taken.

Abstract: In a refrigerant leakage warning device for an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle using a flammable refrigerant as a refrigerant, when leakage of the refrigerant occurs, measures how to cope after the leakage of refrigerant occurs are indicated on an indoor unit. Therefore, the user can see the indication of the leakage and take the measures to cope with it, and it is possible to hold the damage at a minimum, and to enhance the safety.

Abstract: An air conditioner comprises a refrigeration cycle consisting of a compressor, a heat exchanger, a throttling device, a dryer provided with an adsorbent, a connection piping and a refrigerant. The refrigerant contains a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant, the adsorbent contains a plurality of bulk particles, and the dryer includes a container, wherein the adsorbent is located within the container, having a pressing means for holding the adsorbent by pressing it. The load of the pressing means is within a range of about 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2 to about 3 kg/cm.sup.2. The container is of a cylindrical shape having a sectional area of "A", the refrigerant is at a circulation rate of "B", and the value of B/A is within a range of about 100 g/min cm.sup.2 to about 400 g/min cm.sup.2.

Abstract: In an apparatus having a refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration cycle is formed by annularly connecting a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator with one another, the apparatus uses propane, isobutane or ethane as a refrigerant, and uses refrigerating machine oil having less mutual solubility with the refrigerant, and a dryer is provided in the refrigeration cycle for absorbing water. In stead of the dryer, an additive which reacts with water may be included in said refrigerating machine oil. With this arrangement, the amount of the refrigerant can be reduced, and the long term reliability of the apparatus can be obtained.

Abstract: A refrigeration cycle that controls the deposit of foreign matter at inlet or outlet of a capillary tube, which forms an expansion device in the refrigeration, regardless of changeover from a cooling operation to a heating operation. In particular, in a refrigeration cycle using an alternative refrigerant, a junction is provided for joining an end of a capillary tube forming an expansion device to the piping through which the refrigerant flows. The junction has a slope defined by the inside diameter thereof, which gradually decreases from the side of the junction that joins the piping to the side of the junction that joined the capillary tube. An end portion of the capillary tube projects into the junction at the piping side. The projecting end of the capillary tube is opened obliquely to the axial line of the capillary tube. A hole is formed in the peripheral wall of the projecting end of the capillary tube.