Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having thereon an electrode and an alignment film, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. The alignment film on at least one substrate comprises laminated layers of at least two species of electroconductive polymers having mutually different optical band gaps Eq.sup.opt. The ferroelectric liquid crystal device can effectively remove undesirable reverse electric field effect even when a liquid crystal having a large spontaneous polarization is used, and exhibits little change in threshold characteristic with time.

Abstract: An information processor for performing at least one of recording information at a high density, reproducing and erasing information by applying the principle of a scanning tunnel microscope (STM) or an atomic force microscope (AFM) and an information processing method using the information processor. The information .processor is used with a recording medium comprising a recording layer having a characteristic of one of an insulator and a semiconductor. The processor includes a substrate electrode in the recording medium, at least one probe electrode disposed close to the recording medium, and at least one of a circuit for applying an information recording pulse voltage and a circuit for applying an information reproducing pulse voltage. A maximum difference in surface level of a 1.times.1 .mu.m surface region of the substrate electrode is 1 nm or less, and the radius of curvature of a tip of the probe electrode is in the range of 0.1 to 200 .mu.m.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates each having an electrode thereon and coated with an alignment film. The problem of hysteresis or reverse electric field effect of the liquid crystal device is alleviated by composing the alignment film with an alignment material, such as a polyimide, and a polymeric electroconductive compound, such as polyaniline. An electroconductive protective layer may be disposed between the electrode and the alignment film. The alignment film may be provided with an electroconductivity selectively at parts thereof above the electrode so as to provide an improvement in prevention of crosstalk between pixels.

Abstract: A method for positioning an information processing head at a predetermined position on a recording medium includes detecting a predetermined magnetization pattern on a magnetic material having a predetermined positional relation to a recording region of the recording medium by a magnetization detector having a predetermined positional relation to the information processing head, generating a signal indicative of a relative position of the information processing head with respect to the recording medium based on a result of the detecting step and moving the information processing head and the recording medium relatively to position the information processing head at the predetermined position with respect to the recording medium based on the generated signal, and a process for forming a cantilever-type probe capable of indicating a magnitude of a magnetic force between the probe and a recording medium and capable of performing at least one of a recording operation and a reproducing operation on the recording m

Abstract: An MIM type electric element has an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and a barrier layer held therebetween and composed of an insulator or a semiconductor. The lower electrode contains a noble metal crystal having a facet of a plate-shaped crystal formed on a substrate. The facet has a plane given by the crystal face (111) and contains a region having a plane orientation variance angle of not more than 1.degree. by X-ray diffraction.

Abstract: A method for detecting a slope of a surface of an information record medium in an apparatus for detecting/writing information using one or a plurality of probes from/in the information record medium. The surface of the information record medium is scanned using the probe. The information from the surface of the information record medium is detected through the probe when the scanning is executed, and the slope of the surface of the information record medium is detected on the basis of the detected information.

Abstract: A scanning type probe microscope apparatus for measuring a surface state of a sample by scanning the sample by use of a probe is disclosed. In the apparatus, the sample is inclined relative to a scan direction of the probe by a inclination mechanism. Of a signal component corresponding to the surface state of the sample, a signal component having an optional space frequency is selected to be detected by a detecting circuit. The inclination mechanism is controlled on the basis of a detection result of the detecting circuit.

Abstract: A probe for reading an information from an object and/or inputting an information to an object is disclosed. The probe has a supporting member and a rod-shaped projection of which the end is positioned opposed to the object for information reading therefrom and/or information input thereto. The rod-shaped projection protrudes from a partial area of the supporting member. The information reading from the object and/or information input to the object is effected at the longitudinal end of the probe. The probe provides precise and accurate output and/or input of information regardless of the surface state of the object.

Abstract: A switching device is characterized by having periodical layer structure of an organic insulator between a pair of electrodes and having memorizability with respect to switching characteristic. The layer structure is formed of an amphiphilic compound according to the LB method.

Abstract: An electrode substrate includes a substrate and an electrode layer of a noble metal crystal formed on the substrate, the noble metal crystal exhibiting a substantially linear domain boundary and a plane orientation dispersion angle in X-ray analysis of 1.degree. or less. An information recording medium includes an electrode substrate as described above and a recording layer provided on the electrode layer. An information processing apparatus includes: an information recording medium as described above; a probe electrode arranged in close proximity to this medium; and a voltage applying circuit for applying a pulse/bias voltage between the medium and the probe electrode, information being written/read onto/from the medium by the application of the pulse/bias voltage.

Abstract: A process for forming a gold thin film comprises subjecting a gold complex to a decomposition treatment to transfer the gold in a solution to a supersaturated state, and forming a crystalline gold thin film composed of a group of monocrystals on the surface of a substrate.

Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a film structure of a thin film formed on a substrate by projecting a light flux in a direction precisely parallel or nearly parallel to the face of the substrate, separating a reflected light from the thin film and the substrate from a scattered light in a direction precisely perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the face of the substrate and reading information only of the scattered light.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a recording medium, a magnetic material having a predetermined magnetization pattern with respect to the recording medium, a first device for detecting the magnetization pattern of the magnetic material, a second device for detecting a change of the recording medium and a third device for driving the recording medium and the second device relative to each other, based on a signal from the first device.

Abstract: An information transfer method comprises connecting a plurality of MIM devices comprising a monomolecular film of an organic compound or built-up films thereof as the insulating layer and having the switching memory function, and transferring the information on the side nearer to the oscillation source of the information every second bit or every second line or every second picture face successively to the side farther from the oscillation source. An information transfer apparatus comprises using an array or a plurality of arrays of circuits with devices having rectifiability connected in series with the rectifying directions being aligned, connecting one terminal of a two-terminal circuit having an MIM device having switching memory function to each connecting point A, connecting the other terminal of every odd number to provide a second terminal, and having a voltage application means capable of taking a disconnected state relative to the connecting point A.

Abstract: A method of driving a device having a pair of electrodes and organic insulating layer sandwiched therebetween. The device exhibits at least three states of different electroconductivities in response to an applied voltage. A transition from the first state to the second state is achieved by applying a voltage within a first predetermined range to the device in the first state, and a transition from the second state to the third state is achieved by applying a voltage within a second predetermined range to the device in the second state.

Abstract: A recording-reproducing apparatus comprises a recording medium provided with a recording layer containing at least two kinds of compounds, which compounds respectively form phases, and having regular periodic structure comprising said phases as constituent units; a probe electrode disposed opposingly to said recording medium; a circuit for applying a voltage between said recording medium and probe electrode; and a circuit for detecting an electric current flowing between said recording medium and probe electrode. A recording-reproducing method comprises detecting by the use of a probe electrode, at least one phase on a recording medium of the apparatus and recording information or reproducing the recorded information at the position where said phase has been detected.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a pair of opposing substrates and a liquid crystal rendering a chiral smectic phase, disposed between said pair of substrates, wherein at least one of the substrates is provided with an alignment film comprising a polymer containing a skeleton selected from the group consisting of acetylene, phenylene, phenylenevinylene, phenylenexylidene, benzyl, phenylene sulfide, dimethylparaphenylene sulfide, thienylene, furan, selenophene, vinylpyridine, vinylnaphthalene, vinylferrocene, vinylcarbazole, phenylene oxide, phenylene selenide, heptadiyne, benzothiophene, thiophene, pyrrole, aniline and naphthylene. The liquid crystal device is used for a display system and effects a high contrast display without after-image.

Abstract: Recording, reproduction or erasing of information is performed on a recording medium having a recording layer provided on an electrode substrate. The electrode substrate has a regular periodic structure within a plane and the structure is detected through the recording layer by use of a probe electrode to determine a desired position on the recording medium.

Abstract: A switching element is disclosed which comprises an element comprising two electrodes and an organic insulative region interposed between said two electrodes. The element has a memory property and is capable of being switched between different resistance states upon the application of a predetermined voltage. The switching element also comprises a photosensitive region which has an electrical property which is changed by irradiation of light. The photosensitive region is arranged to change a magnitude of voltage applied to the element. The switching device also comprises a means for applying a biasing voltage to the element and the photosensitive region. This biasing voltage is of such a magnitude as to initiate one of the resistance states in said element, having the memory property when light is irradiated on the photosensitive region.

Abstract: A switching device is provided which comprises a pair of electrodes, and a insulating zone and a conductive or semiconductive zone that are provided between said electrodes. Another switching device is also provided which comprises a pair of electrodes, and a laminated structural body in which an insulating thin film and a conductive or semiconductive thin film are alternately laminated between said electrodes in the direction vertical to the surfaces of said electrodes. This device may be used for a switching process in which an electric circuit is switched from the switched off state to the switched-on state by irradiation of electromagnetic radiation.