Abstract: In one embodiment, a buffer circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a first current source, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a second current source, and a third current source. The first transistor has a control terminal connected to an input terminal, and a first terminal connected to an output terminal. The second transistor has a control terminal connected to the input terminal, a first terminal connected to the output terminal, and a second terminal connected to a first power source. The third transistor has a first terminal connected to the output terminal. The fourth transistor has a first terminal connected to the second terminal of the first transistor, a control terminal applied bias voltage, and a second terminal connected to a control terminal of the third transistor.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a noise removing device includes a first difference detector and a second difference detector. The first difference detector detects a difference between a first reset signal at a first timing and a second reset signal at a second timing after a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the first timing. The second difference detector subtracts the difference detected by the first difference detector from a main signal between the first reset signal and the second reset signal, and outputs a subtraction result.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a differential amplifier circuit includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a current source, a first output terminal, a second output terminal, a first passive element, and a second passive element. The first (second) transistor has a control terminal connected to the first (second) input terminal. The third transistor has a control terminal. The control terminal is applied predetermined bias voltage. The current source is connected to a first terminal in each of the first transistor, second transistor, and third transistor. The first (second) output terminal is connected to a second terminal of the first (second) transistor. The first (second) passive element is connected between the first (second) input terminal and the first (second) output terminal.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a signal processing device includes an integrator, a first analog-to-digital converter, and a histogram creator. The integrator is configured to integrate an electrical charge corresponding to electromagnetic waves. The first analog-to-digital converter is configured to perform an analog-to-digital conversion operation that generates digital data of the electrical charge using an integration output from the integrator, on a parallel with an integration operation performed by the integrator. The histogram creator is configured to create a histogram that represents an energy distribution of the electromagnetic waves, from the digital data generated by the first analog-to-digital converter.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a signal processing device includes an integrator, a setting unit, and an analog-to-digital converter. The integrator is configured to integrate an electrical charge corresponding to electromagnetic waves. The integrator includes a capacitor configured to store the electrical charge corresponding to the electromagnetic waves and a discharging circuit configured to discharge the capacitor. The setting unit is configured to set a period of integration of the electrical charge with respect to the integrator. The analog-to-digital converter includes a comparator configured to compare an integration output and a threshold value and a counter configured to output, as digital data of the electrical charge, the number of times for which a value of the integration output becomes not less than the threshold value. The converter is configured to discharge the capacitor during the period of integration by supplying a comparison output of the comparator to the discharging circuit.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a signal processing device includes an integrator, a setting unit, and an analog-to-digital converter. The integrator is configured to integrate an electrical charge corresponding to electromagnetic waves. The integrator includes a capacitor configured to store the electrical charge corresponding to the electromagnetic waves and a discharging circuit configured to discharge the capacitor. The setting unit is configured to set a period of integration of the electrical charge with respect to the integrator. The analog-to-digital converter includes a comparator configured to compare an integration output and a threshold value and a counter configured to output, as digital data of the electrical charge, the number of times for which a value of the integration output becomes not less than the threshold value. The converter is configured to discharge the capacitor during the period of integration by supplying a comparison output of the comparator to the discharging circuit.

Abstract: A photodetector according to an embodiment includes: a photodetector element unit including a first cell array including a plurality of first cells arranged in an array and a second cell array including a plurality of second cells arranged in an array, each of the first and second cells including a photoelectric conversion element, the second cell array being arranged to be adjacent to the first cell array; a first pulse height analyzer unit analyzing a pulse height of an electrical signal outputted from the first cell array; a second pulse height analyzer unit analyzing a pulse height of an electrical signal outputted from the second cell array; and a signal processing unit determining non-uniformity of a distribution of photons entering the first and second cell arrays using an output signal of the first pulse height analyzer unit and an output signal of the second pulse height analyzer unit.

Abstract: There is provided an electromagnetic wave signal processor configured to process an input pulse signal corresponding to an electromagnetic wave, comprising a signal processing unit including: a peak detecting circuit to detect peak values of each amplitude of the input pulse signal; an AD converter to convert the peak values into digital signals; a memory device comprising memory cells each having an address assigned in accordance with each of values capable of being taken by the digital signals of the peak values, and being able to have any one of a plurality of internal states representing detection frequencies of the peak values; and a writing circuit to change the internal state in the memory cell that has the address corresponding to the value of each digital signal converted by the AD converter, so as to increment the detection frequency represented by the internal state.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a fuel cell main body, a fuel supply unit, a voltage sensor, a supply speed determining unit, a fuel supply control unit, and a connecting unit. The voltage sensor measures the open-circuit voltage of the fuel cell main body. The supply speed determining unit determines the fuel supply speed of the fuel supply unit, on the basis of the results obtained from the measurement performed by the voltage sensor, in the case where the voltage measured by the voltage sensor is smaller than a predetermined value. The fuel supply control unit controls, on the basis of the supply speed thus determined, the fuel supply from the fuel supply unit. The connecting unit connects a load to the fuel cell main body, in the case where the voltage measured by the voltage sensor is larger than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A method suitable to reprocess a semiconductor substrate is provided. A semiconductor substrate in which a projection including a damaged semiconductor region and an insulating layer is provided in a peripheral portion of the semiconductor substrate is subjected to etching treatment for removing the insulating layer and to etching treatment for removing the damaged semiconductor region selectively with a non-damaged semiconductor region left using a mixed solution including nitric acid, a substance dissolving a semiconductor material included in the semiconductor substrate and oxidized by the nitric acid, a substance controlling a speed of oxidation of the semiconductor material and a speed of dissolution of the oxidized semiconductor material, and nitrous acid, in which the concentration of the nitrous acid is higher than or equal to 10 mg/l and lower than or equal to 1000 mg/l. Through these steps, the semiconductor substrate is reprocessed.

Abstract: A fuel cell has a fuel cell main body, a fuel supply unit, a voltage sensor, a supply speed determining unit, a fuel supply control unit, and a connecting unit. The voltage sensor measures the open-circuit voltage of the fuel cell main body. The supply speed determining unit determines the fuel supply speed of the fuel supply unit, on the basis of the results obtained from the measurement performed by the voltage sensor, in the case where the voltage measured by the voltage sensor is smaller than a predetermined value. The fuel supply control unit controls, on the basis of the supply speed thus determined, the fuel supply from the fuel supply unit. The connecting unit connects a load to the fuel cell main body, in the case where the voltage measured by the voltage sensor is larger than the predetermined value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an information recording apparatus including a head unit which records data and detects a reflected light by irradiating a laser light onto a recording medium having a recorded area, an unrecorded area, and a management area, and a control unit which controls the head unit so that pattern data is recorded in the unrecorded area of the recording medium to perform finalizing process onto the recording medium, the finalizing process is interrupted in accordance with an interrupting instruction, and an interrupted position of the finalizing process is recorded in management information of the recording medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an optical disk recorder has a control unit that records user data to a second recording area of a first layer before recording user data to a fourth recording area of a second layer and records pattern data in at least one of a first recording area and a third recording area, with respect to a multilayer recording medium comprising the first layer which has the first recording area provided on an inner circumferential side of an optical disk, the second recording area provided on an outer circumferential side thereof, to which user data is recorded, and the third recording area provided on an outer circumferential side thereof, and the second layer which has the fourth recording area laminated on the first layer, to which user data is recorded.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disc shaped multi-layered information recording medium, comprising a lead-in area formed at an inner periphery portion, and information recording layers between the inner periphery portion and an outer periphery portion, wherein the lead-in area records information indicating a format of each of the information recording layers, and is configured so that a type of a format used in each of the information recording layers is identified in accordance with the information indicating the format.

Abstract: An optical head is fed to the innermost area of an optical disk, and then fed to the outside while a detector circuit measures the frequency of a read signal supplied from the optical head. When the frequency of the read signal changes to high frequency, a tracking servo is performed, and the read signal is analyzed to acquire positional information during the tracking servo operation. The tracking servo operation is disabled, and the optical head is fed to a target position based on the positional information.

Abstract: A first lens group U1 having a positive optical power, a second lens group U2 having a negative optical power and a third lens group U3 having a negative optical power are disposed in the order from a screen end. For focusing action, the first lens group U1 and the second lens group U2 respectively move in a same direction for different quantities, while the third lens group U3 remains fixed. The aperture ratio of projection lens as a whole is 1:1.1, the magnification of projection is in a range of -0.025 to 0.100.