Abstract: A method of producing a solid-state image sensing device comprising a photoelectric conversion layer, the method comprising: laminating a first epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a part of the photoelectric conversion layer in the first epitaxial layer; forming a second epitaxial layer by epitaxial growth on the first epitaxial layer; and forming the remaining part of the photoelectric conversion layer in the second epitaxial layer to connect the remaining part of the photoelectric conversion layer to the part of the photoelectric conversion layer in the first epitaxial layer.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image shift can be decreased by a photoconductor belt which has a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of a cylindrically formed belt, a pair of rollers which is placed to apply tension to a photoconductor belt, and rotates the photoconductor belt in a specified direction, a charger which is placed opposite to the surface of the photoconductor belt placed between the pair of rollers, and charges the photosensitive layer, a light source which forms a latent image on the charged photosensitive layer, a developing unit which supplies a developing solution to the photosensitive layer having a latent image, develop the latent image, and forms a toner image, and an absorbing roller which is placed on the backside of the photoconductor belt placed between a pair of rollers, and absorbs the photoconductor belt.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid developer of the present invention includes a photosensitive member which holds an electrostatic latent image, a plurality of developing unit which supply liquid developers including toner particles and carrier liquid to the photosensitive member to form a visible image, a visible image stabilizing unit which enhances adsorption among toners constituting the visible image on the photosensitive member and between the toners and the photosensitive member by an electric field, a drying unit which dries the visible image formed on the photosensitive member, a periphery of the visible image, or the carrier liquids included in the visible image by an air current, and a shielding unit which is disposed between the drying unit and the visible image stabilizing unit and which prevents deposits attached to the photosensitive member surface together with liquid droplets of the carrier liquid existing on the photosensitive member surface from reaching the visible image stab

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is formed which has photosensors, vertical CCDs, a horizontal CCD and a light shielding film. A first insulating layer made of additive-containing silicon oxide is formed on the semiconductor structure. It is reflowed and upward and downward convex inner lenses are formed on the reflowed first insulating layer and above the photosensors. A second insulating layer is formed which covers the inner lenses and is made of silicon oxide based insulator. It is planarized. Color filters are formed on the planarized surface of the second insulating layer. A transparent flat layer made of transparent material is formed covering the color filters. Micro lenses are formed on the transparent flat layer. A low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower than the micro lenses is formed covering the micro lenses. A transparent plate is disposed on it. The semiconductor structure disposed with the transparent plate is packaged.

Abstract: In liquid-developing image formation, a ghost image caused by the contact between a photosensitive member and an absorbing roller to collect a surplus liquid developer is prevented by preventing occurrence of a speed difference (relative speed) between a photosensitive member and a porous member (an absorbing roller) and by keeping an optimum pressing force from a porous member to a visible image on a photosensitive member.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device is provided which includes: charge accumulation regions disposed in a semiconductor substrate in a matrix shape; a plurality of vertical transfer channels formed in the semiconductor substrate each in a close proximity to each column of the charge accumulation regions; vertical transfer electrodes formed above the vertical transfer channels; a channel protective impurity layer formed just under the vertical transfer channel and surrounding the charge accumulation region; one or more pixel separation impurity layers formed under the channel protective impurity layer and at a position facing the channel protective impurity layer; an overflow barrier region having a peak position of an impurity concentration at a position deeper than the pixel separation impurity layer, the peak position of the impurity concentration being at a depth of 3 ?m or deeper from a surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a horizontal CCD for transferring signal charges transferred from the vertical

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a semiconductor substrate, a multiplicity of photo electric conversion elements, a vertical electric charge transfer device having a plurality of vertical electric charge transfer channels and transfer electrodes, reading out parts and a driving device that imposes a first voltage to the reading out electrode for reading out the accumulated signal electric charge from the photo electric conversion elements to the transfer channels in a reading out period and at a same time during the reading out period imposes a second voltage to at least one of the transfer electrodes adjoining to the reading out electrode for each photo electric conversion element for accumulating the signal electric charge in the vertical electric charge transfer channel under the one of the transfer electrode. Damage in the dynamic range of the solid-state imaging apparatus can be prevented.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a semiconductor substrate, a multiplicity of photo electric conversion elements, a vertical electric charge transfer device having a plurality of vertical electric charge transfer channels and transfer electrodes, reading out parts and a driving device that imposes a first voltage to the reading out electrode for reading out the accumulated signal electric charge from the photo electric conversion elements to the transfer channels in a reading out period and at a same time during the reading out period imposes a second voltage to at least one of the transfer electrodes adjoining to the reading out electrode for each photo electric conversion element for accumulating the signal electric charge in the vertical electric charge transfer channel under the one of the transfer electrode. Damage in the dynamic range of the solid-state imaging apparatus can be prevented.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus using a liquid developer of the present invention includes a photosensitive member which holds an electrostatic latent image, a plurality of developing unit which supply liquid developers including toner particles and carrier liquid to the photosensitive member to form a visible image, a visible image stabilizing unit which enhances adsorption among toners constituting the visible image on the photosensitive member and between the toners and the photosensitive member by an electric field, a drying unit which dries the visible image formed on the photosensitive member, a periphery of the visible image, or the carrier liquids included in the visible image by an air current, and a shielding unit which is disposed between the drying unit and the visible image stabilizing unit and which prevents deposits attached to the photosensitive member surface together with liquid droplets of the carrier liquid existing on the photosensitive member surface from reaching the visible image stab

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is formed which has photosensors, vertical CCDs, a horizontal CCD and a light shielding film. A first insulating layer made of additive-containing silicon oxide is formed on the semiconductor structure. It is reflowed and upward and downward convex inner lenses are formed on the reflowed first insulating layer and above the photosensors. A second insulating layer is formed which covers the inner lenses and is made of silicon oxide based insulator. It is planarized. Color filters are formed on the planarized surface of the second insulating layer. A transparent flat layer made of transparent material is formed covering the color filters. Micro lenses are formed on the transparent flat layer. A low refractive index layer having a refractive index lower than the micro lenses is formed covering the micro lenses. A transparent plate is disposed on it. The semiconductor structure disposed with the transparent plate is packaged.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a surface layer; charge storage regions disposed in the surface layer; vertical channels disposed in the surface layer adjacent to respective columns of the charge storage regions; vertical transfer electrodes formed above the semiconductor substrate, crossing the vertical channels; a horizontal channel disposed in the surface layer coupled to the vertical channels, having a first portion with transfer stages, each including a barrier region and a well region, and a second portion constituting a gate region with gradually decreasing width, and including an upstream region and a downstream region of different effective impurity concentration, establishing a built-in potential; horizontal transfer electrodes disposed above respective transfer stages of the horizontal channel; an output gate electrode disposed above the gate region; a floating diffusion region disposed in the surface layer coupled to the gate region of the horizontal

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid carrier removing system which efficiently removes liquid carrier from a liquid developed image on a latent image bearing member, and reduces disturbance of a visible image formed with toner particles. The liquid carrier of the liquid developed image on the latent image bearing member is sucked by an absorbing cylinder, the surface of which is formed by a porous layer and pressed to the bearing member. A vacuum system is coupled to the absorbing cylinder to make the inside of the cylinder be negative pressure. The liquid carrier taken in the absorbing cylinder is sucked and collected inside the cylinder. In order that the pressed region of the absorbing cylinder may not be subjected to the sucking action by the negative pressure, a shield, which covers a part of the inside wall of the absorbing cylinder, is provided. Sucking and removing the liquid carrier of the liquid developed image and collection of the sucked liquid carrier are carried out separately.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid carrier removing system which efficiently removes liquid carrier from a liquid developed image on a latent image bearing member and reduces disturbance of a visible image formed with toner particles.

Abstract: An ink jet recording device for applying an electric force to an ink to cause an ink particle to fly onto a recording medium for recording, comprises: a control substrate arranged so as to face the recording medium, said control substrate comprising an insulating supporting substrate, and first and second control electrodes arranged on both sides of the insulating supporting substrate, said control substrate having at least one through hole which passes through said first and second control electrodes and said insulating supporting substrate; ink supply source for supplying an ink into said through hole of said control substrate; and signal voltage supply source for applying a signal voltage between said first and second control electrodes, in accordance with a picture signal for causing an ink particle to fly out of said through hole toward said recording medium.

Abstract: An auxiliary substrate is provided so as to face a main substrate to which ink is supplied and the pattern of a voltage applied to an auxiliary electrode array formed on the auxiliary substrate is controlled. In a printing operation, the coloring material components are sent to the vicinity of an ink droplet emitting outlet and the coloring material components in the ink where the coloring material is dispersed in solvent are concentrated. Then, they are emitted from the ink droplet emitting outlet in the form of ink droplets and are forced to fly at a printing medium, thereby printing on the medium. In a non-printing operation, the auxiliary electrode array is controlled so that the coloring material components may be kept away from the ink droplet emitting outlet and the concentration of the coloring material components in the ink near the ink droplet emitting outlet is made lower than in a printing operation.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus, in which the ink having colorants distributed in a solvent is supplied over the electrode array on the surface of the head substrate such that the electrode array is completely covered by the ink, while voltages are applied to the electrode array to produce an electric field for exerting an electrostatic force on the colorants in the ink such that the colorants are compressed and ejected toward a recording medium. Each individual electrode constituting the electrode array can have a tip end portion projecting from the surface of the head substrate. The apparatus also has an element for compressing colorants distributed in a solvent of an ink and an element for ejecting the compressed colorants toward a recording medium which are provided separately. In addition, the apparatus can incorporate an element for conveying colorants in the ink through the ink supply passage toward the colorant ejection point on the electrode array.