1. A transistor module on a substrate, the transistor module comprising:
a first transistor;
a first recovery diode;
a second transistor; and
a second recovery diode,
wherein a first transistor chip associated with the first transistor and a second diode chip associated with the second recovery diode are disposed adjacently on a positive potential area, the first transistor chip and the second diode chip being disposed on an output potential area,
wherein a second transistor chip associated with the second transistor and a first diode chip associated with the first recovery diode are adjacently disposed on the output potential area,
wherein at least two sides of the output potential area are adjacent to a negative potential area,
wherein both the second transistor chip and the first diode chip are connected to the negative potential area, and
wherein one of the first and second transistor chips is disposed adjacent to one of the second and first diode chips on a same potential area and the one of the first and second transistor chips is also disposed opposite another one of the first and second diode chips located on a different potential area.
2. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein a first set of lines connecting both the first diode chip and the second transistor chip to the negative potential area extend at least substantially transversely to a second set of wire lines connecting both the first transistor chip and the second diode chip to the output potential area.
3. The transistor module of claim 2, wherein the negative potential area is connected to both the first diode chip and the second transistor chip by a third set and a fourth set of wire lines, respectively.
4. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein a first spacing separating one of the transistor chips from one of the diode chips disposed on a similar potential area is less than a width of one of the transistor chips.
5. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein a second spacing between one of the transistor chips and one of the diode chips oppositely disposed on separate potential areas is less than a height of one of the transistor chips.
6. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein a third spacing between the positive potential area and the output potential area is less than a height of one of the diode chips.
7. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein a connecting cross-member of the negative potential area is disposed between the positive potential area and the output potential area.
8. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein the output potential area is immediately adjacent the positive potential area.
9. The transistor module of claim 1, wherein the positive potential area and the output potential area are disposed in a same plane.
10. The transistor module of claim 3 wherein a first spacing separating one of the transistor chips from one of the diode chips disposed on a similar potential area is less than a width of one of the transistor chips;
wherein a second spacing between one of the transistor chips and one of the diode chips oppositely disposed on separate potential areas is less than a height of one of the transistor chips; and
wherein a third spacing between the positive potential area and the output potential area is less than a height of one of the diode chips.
11. The transistor module of claim 10 wherein the output potential area is immediately adjacent the positive potential area.
12. The transistor module of claim 10, wherein the positive potential area and the output potential area are disposed in a same plane.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a memory to store first sound information associated with a normal operating sound produced when an image forming apparatus normally operates;
a sensor to detect an operating sound produced from the image forming apparatus and generate second sound information based on the detected operating sound; and
a locating device to locate a fault in the image forming apparatus based on the first sound information, the second sound information, and operation information associated with the image forming apparatus.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locating device locates the fault after shifting the second sound information such that an average value of the shifted second sound information is within a predetermined value range.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the locating device is capable of specifying a time at which an abnormal sound is produced by comparing the first sound information and the second sound information.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the locating device specifies a time at which a difference between the first sound information and the second sound information exceeds a predetermined value as the time at which the abnormal sound is produced.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory stores the first sound information for each size or each operation mode.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a display device to indicate the location of the fault determined by the locating device.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation information includes information about a load for operating the image forming apparatus.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation information includes information about a speed of a driving device that drives a sheet feeding roller.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation information includes information about operation of a separation device that separates a pair of sheet feeding rollers.
10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation information includes information detected by a sheet sensor that detects a position of a sheet.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a transmitting device that transmits information about the fault located by the locating device to a management apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory stores the second sound information as the normal operating sound, and
wherein the locating device locates the fault by using the stored second sound information as the first sound information.
13. An image forming system comprising:
an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet;
a management apparatus coupled to the image forming apparatus via a network;
a memory to store first sound information associated with a normal operating sound produced when the image forming apparatus normally operates;
a sound sensor to detect an operating sound produced from the image forming apparatus and generate second sound information based on the detected operating sound; and
a locating device to locate a fault in the image forming apparatus based on the first sound information, the second sound information, and operation information associated with the image forming apparatus.
14. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the locating device is provided in the image forming apparatus, and
wherein the image forming apparatus includes a notifying device that notifies the management apparatus of the fault located by the locating device.
15. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the memory and the locating device are provided in the management apparatus,
wherein the image forming apparatus includes a transmitting device to transmit the second sound information to the management apparatus, and
wherein the locating device locates the fault based on the first sound information and the operation information stored in the management apparatus, and the second sound information transmitted from the transmitting device.
16. The image forming system according to claim 13, wherein the management apparatus includes a display device that indicates the location of the fault determined by the locating device.
17. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising:
storing first sound information associated with a first operating sound produced when the image forming apparatus operates without a fault;
detecting an operating sound produced from the image forming apparatus and generating second sound information based on the detected operating sound; and
locating a fault in the image forming apparatus based on the first sound information, the second sound information, and operation information associated with the image forming apparatus.
18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
shifting the second sound information such that an average value of the second sound information is within a defined range.
19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:
comparing the first sound information and the second sound information; and
determining an abnormal sound produced time at which a difference between the first sound information and the second sound information exceeds a threshold value.
20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:
determining a location of the fault based on the abnormal sound produced time; and
displaying the location of the fault.