Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide techniques that enable avoidance of the concentration of an electric field at the edge of a semiconductor film in a semiconductor device such as a thin film transistor, thereby enhancing the reliability. Exemplary embodiments provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a structure in which a semiconductor film, a dielectric film, and an electrode are deposited. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming an island-shape semiconductor film on one dielectric surface of a substrate, the substrate having at least one dielectric surface; forming a first dielectric film on the one surface of the substrate so as to cover the semiconductor film and have a film thickness of the portion other than over the semiconductor film equal to or larger than that of the semiconductor film; reducing a film thickness of the first dielectric film at least in a region over the semiconductor film; and forming an electrode so as to be on the first dielectric film after reduction of the film thickness and pass over a predetermined location of the semiconductor film.
Abstract:
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The main assembly includes an output contact movable between electrical connecting and retracted positions, a displaceable member for moving the output contact, and an elastic function member for elastically urging the displaceable member to urge the output contact toward the retracted position. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a process device actable on the drum, and a movable operation member engageable with a main-assembly fixed engageable member and with the displaceable member to move the output contact from the retracted to the electrical connecting position against the bias of the elastic function member, in interrelation with the movement of the displaceable member, after the engagement with the fixed engageable member when the cartridge is inserted into the main assembly. The cartridge also includes an input electrical contact.
Abstract:
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, to which a unit is detachably mountable, wherein the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is transportable with the unit mounted thereto, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus including (i) a movable member; (ii) a main assembly electrical contact provided on the movable member; (iii) a mounting member for demountably mounting the unit; (iv) a unit mounted to the mounting member, wherein the unit has a unit electrical contact electrically contactable to the main assembly electrical contact in an image forming operation for forming the image on the recording material; and (v) a separating member for separating the main assembly electrical contact and the unit electrical contact from each other by contacting the movable member and the unit to provide a gap between the main assembly electrical contact and the unit electrical contact when the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is transported with the unit mounted to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
Abstract:
To provide a technology that makes it possible to stably manufacture high-quality transistors, a method of manufacturing a transistor includes forming an interlayer film having a semiconductor film and at least two different films, the interlayer film having a dangling bond in the semiconductor film and/or at a vicinity of an interface of the semiconductor film, forming a backup film that promotes a termination of the dangling bond over the interlayer film and performing a heat treatment after the backup film is formed, subsequent processes after the heat treatment being performed with a temperature lower than 350° C.
Abstract:
A developer container for containing a developer includes: (a) a first detecting member which is an electrode member having a pair of input-side and output-side electrodes formed in parallel and in one plane at a predetermined interval for detecting capacitance between the electrodes and which has a measurement-side electrode that is in contact with the developer and a reference electrode that is out of contact with the developer; (b) a developer removing member for removing any developer adhering to a detection region of the first detecting member; and (c) a second detecting member formed of a conductive material for detecting capacitance between the second detecting member and a developer bearing member, wherein a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus first detects the developer amount partway from the start of use of the developer container on the basis of detection information from the first detecting member, and then detects the developer amount on the basis of detection information from the second detecting member.
Abstract:
A memory cartridge for use with a printer, a copier, a word processor and other electronic equipment as an external memory. A connector corresponding to that of the equipment is provided on one end of a casing which accommodates a printed circuit board, which is loaded with memory devices. A plurality of memory cartridges may be connected to a buffer of the equipment via the individual connectors. A grounding plate for making contact with a grounding portion of the printed circuit board is disposed on the memory cartridge close to the connector. This reliably connects the memory cartridge to ground. Further, since which one of the memory cartridges is selected can be determined, it is not necessary for the equipment to be provided with buffers and related circuits in one-to-one correspondence to the memory cartridges.