Abstract: An object gripping method includes determining a gripping center coordinate system when gripping a target object assumed to be gripped by an end effector having a plurality of fingers for each of a plurality of gripping postures that are able to be taken by the end effector, determining an initial fingertip position from the determined gripping center coordinate system, instructing the end effector to grip the target object at the initial fingertip position and gripping the target object, fixing a fingertip position of the end effector with respect to the gripping center coordinate system, and determining an operation amount of the gripping center coordinate system according to a desired operation amount of the target object and operating the target object according to an operation of the gripping center coordinate system.

Abstract: A power generation element includes a magnetic member that produces a large Barkhausen effect and magnetism collection members including an insertion part having the magnetic member inserted therethrough. The magnetism collection member includes a first component on an opposite side of a boundary plane to a magnetic field generation unit and a second component on the same side of the boundary plane as the magnetic field generation unit, the boundary plane passing through a center of an imaginary circle inscribed in the insertion part and having a diameter equal to a length of the insertion part in a third direction perpendicular to first and second directions, the first direction is a direction of the insertion of the magnetic member, and the second direction is a direction in which the magnetic field generation unit is disposed. A volume of the second component is larger than a volume of the first component.

Abstract: In an animal embryo or tissue, the following wholeamount treatment is carried out so that gene expression is detected. First, a sample such as an embryo or a tissue is fixed and then pretreated by acetylating an amine with acetic anhydride and eliminating lipids by using xylene. Next, in situ RT-PCR is performed with the use of a dNTP/analog mixture in an mRNA Selective PCR Kit™ (manufactured by TAKARA) and dig-dUTP™ (manufactured by Roche), under modification conditions at 85° C. As a result, genomic DNA is not amplified but DNA originating in mRNA—is specifically amplified and labeled. Finally, the thus amplified DNA is detected by using digoxigenin as an indication. Thus, it is possible to provide a method of detecting gene expression whereby three-dimensional results can be obtained in an animal embryo or tissue at a high detection sensitivity by simple procedures and a kit and an apparatus to be used therein.

Abstract: A test support process and a test support program for producing a post-update test pattern when a program under test is updated. When a program under development is updated, a post-update operation description defining details of an operation of a function included in the program under development after the update is acquired. Next, a pre-update operation description having high commonality with the post-update operation description is selected from among pre-update operation descriptions defining details of operations of functions included in the program under development before the update. A pre-update test pattern for an operational test of the selected pre-update operation description is extracted from among pre-update test patterns prepared for operational tests of the program under development before the update. A post-update test pattern for an operational test of the post-update operation description is generated by inheriting at least a portion of the extracted pre-update test pattern.

Abstract: To provide a very clean elastomer molded article excellent in plasma resistance, having excellent property of metal-elution inhibition and is used suitably as a material for molded article for a semiconductor or liquid crystal manufacturing equipment. The molded article is obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomer composition comprising an elastomer component and a metal oxide filler comprising a silicon oxide filler containing impurity metals other than silicon in an amount of not more than 100 ppm. The molded article has an impurity metal content of not more than 100 ppm, and an increasing rate of particles generated by irradiating oxygen plasma to the article is not more than 1,000% or an amount of impurity metals other than silicon which is extracted with a 50% aqueous solution of HF is not more than 200 ppb.

Abstract: To provide a crosslinkable elastomer composition which is excellent in mechanical properties, ensures a small amount of outgas such as DOP and is suitable as a very clean material for molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses. The composition comprises a crosslinkable elastomer component and ultra fine powders of silicon oxide, in which the ultra fine powders of silicon oxide have 100×1019 or less hydroxyl groups per gram on surfaces thereof, dioctylphthalate adsorption of not more than 8 ?g per 1 g of silicon oxide and an average particle size of not more than 0.5 ?m.

Abstract: Elastomer molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses which is obtained by crosslinking and molding a crosslinkable fluorine-containing elastomer composition comprising a crosslinkable fluorine-containing elastomer component and fine particles of aluminum oxide having an average particle size of not more than 0.5 &mgr;m. The elastomer molded article is excellent in plasma resistance and an amount of micro particles generated after irradiation of plasma is very small and therefore a very clean molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses, particularly a sealing material to be used in an environment of plasma irradiation is provided.

Abstract: A test support process and a test support program for producing a post-update test pattern when a program under test is updated. When a program under development is updated, a post-update operation description defining details of an operation of a function included in the program under development after the update is acquired. Next, a pre-update operation description having high commonality with the post-update operation description is selected from among pre-update operation descriptions defining details of operations of functions included in the program under development before the update. A pre-update test pattern for an operational test of the selected pre-update operation description is extracted from among pre-update test patterns prepared for operational tests of the program under development before the update. A post-update test pattern for an operational test of the post-update operation description is generated by inheriting at least a portion of the extracted pre-update test pattern.

Abstract: A carbon black filler for crosslinkable elastomer composition having a content of impurity metals of not more than 300 ppm and a pH value of 5.0 to 11.0. The filler can be obtained by subjecting a starting carbon black filler to extraction treatment with an acid to reduce a content of impurity metals of the filler and then alkali treatment with an alkali to neutralize a remaining acid. The filler does not cause a crosslinking failure even when added to an elastomer composition and can provide an elastomer molded article suitable as a very clean sealing material for semi-conductor production apparatuses.

Abstract: To provide a packaging material being capable of maintaining a highly clean state, wherein the number of fine particles having a particle size of not less than 0.2 &mgr;m and being present on its surface facing an article to be packaged is not more than 5,000/cm2, a steam permeation degree at 40° C. at 90% RH is not more than 30 g/cm2·24 hr, a total amount of gas (excluding steam) to be generated when heating at 80° C. for 15 minutes is not more than 5 ppm and a total amount of water to be generated when heating at 80° C. for 30 minutes is not more than 13 ppm.

Abstract: To provide a novel and effective cleaning method which can give a cleaned fluorine-containing rubber molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses. The method of cleaning the fluorine-containing rubber molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses, which comprises washing the fluorine-containing rubber molded article at least once with ultra pure water which has a metal content of not more than 1.0 ppm and does not contain fine particles of not less than 0.2 &mgr;m in an amount of more than 300 per 1 ml.

Abstract: A contour shape of a desired shape of a workpiece at section along a predetermined axis is divided into machining units. Each of the machining units includes a plurality of inflection points including a machining start point and a machining end point. Machining data at least necessary for performing machining is set for each of the machining units. Arrival times at the inflection points are calculated based on the machining data, and a position of at least one of the workpiece and the tool is calculated for each of the inflection points. For each of the machining units, a rotation angle position of the workpiece corresponding to the arrival time is set as an accumulated count value.

Abstract: The metal oxide filler of titanium oxide or silicon oxide for the crosslinkable elastomer composition which has a pH value of from 5.0 to 11.0 and contains impurity metals other than the essential metal of the filler in an amount of not more than 10,000 ppm. The metal oxide filler can be obtained by extraction treatment of a starting metal oxide filler with an acid to reduce a content of impurity metals thereof and then treatment with an alkali to neutralize a remaining acid. The metal oxide filler of the present invention does not cause a crosslinking failure even when added to the elastomer composition and can provide the elastomer molded article suitable as a very clean sealing material for semi-conductor production apparatuses.

Abstract: Elastomer molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses which is obtained by crosslinking and molding a crosslinkable fluorine-containing elastomer composition comprising a crosslinkable fluorine-containing elastomer component and fine particles of aluminum oxide having an average particle size of not more than 0.5 &mgr;m. The elastomer molded article is excellent in plasma resistance and an amount of micro particles generated after irradiation of plasma is very small and therefore a very clean molded article for semiconductor production apparatuses, particularly a sealing material to be used in an environment of plasma irradiation is provided.

Abstract: To provide an elastomer molded article for a semiconductor manufacturing equipment which not only has cleanliness required but also has an excellent plasma resistance and an excellent property of metal-elution inhibition. The elastomer molded article is obtained by crosslinking a crosslinkable elastomer composition comprising a crosslinkable elastomer component and a carbon black filler having an average particle size of not more than 700 &mgr;m and an impurity metal content measured by an ashing analysis method of not more than 300 ppm and has an impurity metal content measured by an ashing analysis method of not more than 100 ppm. An increasing rate of particles generated by irradiating oxygen plasma to the article is not more than 500% or an amount of impurity metals extracted from the article with a 50% aqueous solution of HF is not more than 500 ppb.

Abstract: A contour shape of a desired shape of a workpiece at section along a predetermined axis is divided into machining units. Each of the machining units includes a plurality of inflection points including a machining start point and a machining end point. Machining data at least necessary for performing machining is set for each of the machining units. Arrival times at the inflection points are calculated based on the machining data, and a position of at least one of the workpiece and the tool is calculated for each of the inflection points. For each of the machining units, a rotation angle position of the workpiece corresponding to the arrival time is set as an accumulated count value.

Abstract: An optical measurement apparatus includes a reaction vessel 2 which is formed in one body with a slab-type optical waveguide 1, and the apparatus adds fine-grains or water soluble dye for absorbing a fluorescent light which is radiated from fluorescent dye, and/or an exciting light so that stray light due to reagent is reduced and the S/N ratio of the optical measurement is improved.