An automatic coal stoker is disclosed having at the base of its hopper an enclosed reciprocating pusher assembly rectangular box shaped which delivers compressingly a defined but variable quantity of coal into a restricted passageway. The light detector comprises a line array of avalanche semiconductor detectors; and an electronic trigger circuit that is adapted to operate the avalanche semiconductor detectors in at least one of a Geiger mode with internal charge amplification and in a linear mode. The information processing apparatus of the present invention separates the data lines of a host communication controller and the data lines of a device communication controller and activates the selected controller by means of selecting the data lines of the controllers and means of determining which is connected to a connector, a host or a device. The p-type semiconductor of the starting LED chip and the n-type semiconductor of the ending LED chip are connected to conductors for electrical connection with an external power source. A charge carrier separation layer can be coupled adjacent and between the diamond-like carbon cathode and an anode.