Seiko Epson Corporation

Akira Maruyama

Osamu Ishibashi

Yukihiro Watsuji

Ken Yoshizuka

Masahiro Owa

Kazuhiro Ichikawa

Tomoyuki Kurata

Hiroshi Niki

Reiko Nagai

A positioning system is provided to set easily initial position information at a low cost without using a database in which positions of base stations are stored. A GPS serverhas a server positioning sectionthat receives a position related signal transmitted by a GPS satellite to obtain data. A server-orbit-information acquiring programanalyzes the data to generate orbit informationand stores orbit informationin a server third storing unit(ST). A satellite-direction-information generating programgenerates satellite direction informationwhich includes an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the GPS satellite viewed from a reference point (ST). A generation-time-information generating programacquires the time when the satellite direction informationis generated from a server clock sectionand stores the time in the server third storing unit(ST).

Positioning system, positioning apparatus, positioning information providing apparatus, positioning method, control program for positioning system, and computer readable recording medium having recorded therein control program for positioning system

A ferroelectric memory device capable of structurally reducing data deterioration. In this ferroelectric memory device, bitlines are hierarchized, and sub-bitlines subordinate to the bitlines through sub-bitline select switches are provided in each of a plurality of block regions. The block regions are sequentially selected along an increment direction, and wordlines in each block are sequentially selected along the increment direction from the lowest wordline to the highest wordline. The number 'n' of wordlines arranged in each block region is set equal to or less than a predetermined limit number about relaxation.

Ferroelectric memory device and display drive IC

An image forming apparatus includes attach/detach sections to/from each of which a developer container for containing developer can be attached/detached, and an image bearing body for bearing a latent image. When a developer container is attached to each of the attach/detach sections, the apparatus is usable as a color image forming apparatus. When a developer container is attached to only one of the attach/detach sections, the apparatus is usable as a single-color image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus has a device ID that is sent to a computer when it communicates with the computer and that is used by the computer to recognize devices capable of communicating therewith. The device ID of the image forming apparatus for when it is being used as the color image forming apparatus matches the device ID of the image forming apparatus for when it is being used as the single-color image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and computer-readable storage medium

The sorting apparatus receives the electromagnetic wave from a storage element of a collected toner cartridge, and specifies the recyclability of the toner cartridge based on information extracted from the received electromagnetic wave. The sorting system then sorts out the toner cartridge, in order to send the toner cartridge to a selected one of the sorting areas, based on the results of the specification of recyclability of the toner cartridge, the feed roller, and the development roller. Subsequently, the sorting system controls one of sorting units to guide the toner cartridge to the selected sorting area and registers the results of sorting into a sorting database.

Sorting technique for recycle of device units

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus with attach/detach sections to/from which a developer container is attachable/detachable and an image bearing body. A driver instructs the apparatus to execute single-color or color-image formation. When a developer container is attached to each attach/detach section, the apparatus is usable as a color image forming apparatus. When a developer container is attached to only one attach/detach section, the apparatus is usable as a single-color image forming apparatus. The apparatus forms an image when the driver instructs the apparatus that is being used as the color image forming apparatus to execute single-color-image formation. The apparatus does not form an image when the driver instructs the apparatus that is being used as the single-color image forming apparatus to execute color-image formation.

Image forming system and image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus comprises: attach/detach sections to/from each of which a developer container for containing developer can be attached/detached; an image bearing body for bearing a latent image; and a displaying section for displaying information thereon. When developer containers are attached to the attach/detach sections, the apparatus is usable as a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image by developing the latent image bore on the image bearing body with the developer in each developer container. When a developer container is attached to only one attach/detach section, the apparatus is usable as a single-color image forming apparatus for forming a single-color image by developing the latent image bore on the image bearing body with the developer in the developer container. Information displayed on the displaying section when the apparatus is used as the color image forming apparatus is different from information displayed on the displaying section when it is used as the single-color image forming apparatus.

Image forming apparatus and image forming system

A ferroelectric memory device having a function of preventing destruction of data stored in an unselected memory cell. The ferroelectric memory device includes a protection circuit for protecting data in the unselected memory cell. The protection circuit is provided on an unselected-bitline-voltage supply line and an unselected-wordline-voltage supply line.

Ferroelectric memory device

A toner cartridgehas a storage elementthat stores recycling information. A cartridge recycling information apparatus of the invention outputs a recycling request form based on the recycling information stored in the storage elementat a specified output timing of the recycling information. This arrangement desirably saves the user's labor and time of searching for the recycling request form and enables the user to be readily notified of the recycling information.

Cartridge recycling information apparatus, corresponding method, and cartridge to be recycled

A ferroelectric memory device enabling high-speed access has a voltage selection circuit and a potential gradient correction section. The voltage selection circuit selects a plurality of different voltages generated by a power circuit and outputs them to voltage supply lines, fixing the potential of either the unselected-word-line-voltage-supply-line or the unselected-bit-line-voltage-supply-line. The potential gradient correction section reduces one difference in potential gradient on a side with no fixed potential, which is either the difference between the potential gradient of the selected-word-line-voltage-supply-line and the potential gradient of the unselected-bit-line-voltage-supply-line, or the difference between the potential gradient of the selected bit line voltage supply line and the potential gradient unselected-word-line-voltage-supply-line.

A high-speed accessible ferroelectric memory device includes ferroelectric capacitors (memory cells) at respective intersecting points of a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. A voltage supply line for a selected word line and a voltage supply line for an unselected word line are connected with a word line driver section which drives the word lines. A voltage supply line for a selected bit line and a voltage supply line for an unselected bit line are connected with a bit line driver section which drives the bit lines. A voltage select circuit which selects the voltages of the supply lines fixes the potential of one of the voltage supply line for the unselected word line and the voltage supply line for the unselected bit line in both cases of applying a positive and negative select voltages to a selected memory cell (read period and write period).

A ferroelectric memory device has a function of protecting data held in memory cells from an unexpected unstable power supply voltage generated when the power is turned on or off, or when reading or writing data, and a function of reducing power consumption during reading or writing of data. The ferroelectric memory device includes a short circuit which is operated when the power is turned on or off, or after reading or writing of data occurs. The short circuit short-circuits all of a voltage supply line for a selected word line, a voltage supply line for an unselected word line, a voltage supply line for a selected bit line and a voltage supply line for an unselected bit line, or short-circuits the voltage supply line for the unselected word line and the voltage supply line for the unselected bit line.

Ferroelectric memory device with an equalization circuit connected between word voltage supply lines and bit voltage supply lines

A non-volatile semiconductor integrated circuit is provided including a counter circuit that generates column addresses in synchronism with an external clock, and conducts a page programming sequence in word line units, wherein, when inputting program data, the program data is taken in synchronism with fallings and risings of the external clock. That is, program data is taken in synchronism with the risings and fallings of an XWE signal, such that the time for taking program data can be shortened by half. Also, the counter circuit that counts the external clock is driven by using a power supply voltage that is higher than the internal power supply voltage, such that operation delays in the counter circuit are reduced, the frequency of the external clock can be increased and thus the time for taking program data can be further shortened.

Non-volatile semiconductor integrated circuit

In a data storage method for memory cells that compose a semiconductor integrated circuit, a power supply potential VDD or a potential VL that is lowered from the power supply potential VDD by a threshold potential of Nch transistors and is applied for each of the directions of the voltages that are applied to a ferroelectric capacitor in response to data to thereby perform writing. In the present invention, a semiconductor device equipped with a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits described above is applied to FeRAMs or DRAMs, and the semiconductor device is used in a hand-carry type data terminal, a telephone and the like.

DATA STORAGE METHOD FOR SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH MANY OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS USING THE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

The gate terminals of several Pch transistors are connected to an output terminal and controlled with second and third potentials. The gate terminals of several Nch transistors are connected to the output terminal and controlled with first and fourth potentials. In this way, an input signal between a VDD potential and a GND potential can be level-shifted to an output signal between a VPP potential and a VBB potential with a simple circuit structure. Also, the operation speed in switching potentials can be improved.

Semiconductor integrated circuit

A programming operation and a verification operation are executed in divided parts or pages, while being alternately shifted one from the other. As a result, the number of memory transistors at the time of the programming operation is reduced, such that the current used at the time of the programming operation is reduced, and the current supply capability of a step-up circuit can be lowered.

Growing community of inventors

Nagano-ken, Japan

Akira Maruyama