Abstract: A CIGS film production method capable of suppressing oxidation of a front surface of a CIGS film, and a CIGS solar cell production method using the CIGS film production method includes the steps of: forming a first region having a Ga/(In+Ga) ratio progressively reduced as the thickness of the first region increases to a predetermined first thickness position from a back surface of the CIGS film; forming a second region having a Ga/(In+Ga) ratio progressively increased as the thickness of the second region increases to a predetermined second thickness position from the first region; and forming a third region on the second region by vapor-depositing Se and In, the third region having a Ga/(In+Ga) ratio progressively reduced toward a front surface of the CIGS film.

Abstract: A terminal apparatus having a plurality of functions includes an operation unit that receives from a user an input of at least one among a character, a number, and a symbol into an entry field, which is provided on a screen for using one function among the plurality of functions; and a function call unit that performs a function calling process of calling another function among the plurality of functions other than the one function when the input of at least one among the character, the number, and the symbol includes the character, the number, or the symbol for calling any function among the plurality of functions.

Abstract: A compound solar cell having a higher conversion efficiency and a method for producing the compound solar cell at lower costs are provided. The compound solar cell includes a CIGS light absorbing layer, a buffer layer and a front side electrode layer provided on a substrate. An interface layer made of a mixed crystal compound having a composition represented by the following general formula is provided between the CIGS light absorbing layer and the buffer layer: Zn(Ox,S1-x) . . . (1), wherein X is 0.9<X?1.

Abstract: In order to provide a method that can manufacture a compound solar cell with a high conversion efficiency at low cost, a buffer layer is formed by a sputtering method with the use of a high-frequency RF power source or a high-frequency RF power source and a direct-current (DC) power source in combination, while two cathode targets for sputtering are arranged to be opposed to each other on both sides of an imaginary central axis assumed to extend perpendicularly from a surface of a substrate over with a CIGS light absorbing layer is stacked.

Abstract: A method is provided that performs, based on a schedule, the printing of a plurality of images and the print head maintenance on the first face and the second face of a continuous sheet. The method includes: sensing a unique portion unsuitable for image printing that exists on the continuous sheet; and setting a printing schedule, when the unique portion is sensed in the first face or the second face, such that an image is prevented to be printed on the unique portion and a maintenance operation of the print head is performed at a region corresponding to the unique portion on the back face of the first or second face that has the unique portion.

Abstract: An information storage system including information processing devices; an information storage device connected to the information processing devices; an access information generating unit configured to generate, based on a request from a first information processing device, access information for accessing a storage area in the information storage device to which access is restricted from the information processing devices other than the first information processing device; a display unit configured to cause the first information processing device to display the access information; a sending unit configured to cause a second information processing device to acquire the access information displayed on the first information processing device and to send the access information to the information storage device; and an access unit configured to cause the information storage device to allow the second information processing device to access the storage area based on the access information that has been sent.

Abstract: In order to provide a CIGS compound solar cell with a high conversion efficiency, a CIGS compound solar cell including a rear electrode layer, a CIGS light absorbing layer, a buffer layer, and a transparent electrode layer in this order over a substrate is configured such that the buffer layer comprises a mixed crystal of a Group IIa metal and zinc oxide, and characteristics of the mixed crystal as shown by X-ray diffraction satisfy the following formula (1): 0.5?A/(A+B+C)<1 ??(1) (where none of A, B, C are 0) A: peak intensity at plane (002) B: peak intensity at plane (100) C: peak intensity at plane (101).

Abstract: An information processing system includes a request receiver to receive a terminal request including a plurality of apparatus identification information, transmitted from communication terminals, used for identifying each of the plurality of apparatuses; a request processor to accumulate the received terminal request into a request accumulation unit; a request transmitter, upon receiving an obtaining request for obtaining a terminal request from an apparatus identified by the apparatus identification information, to transmit the terminal request accumulated in the request accumulation unit to the apparatus; a result receiver to receive a process result for the terminal request from the apparatus; and a result transmitter to transmit the received process result to a communication terminal. The request processor transfers the terminal request from one request accumulation unit of one apparatus transmitting a process result to other request accumulation unit of other apparatus not transmitting a process result.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus receives user information and a request, generates authentication information in response to the request, stores the authentication information associated with the user information, receives the authentication information from a terminal apparatus and device identification information identifying the terminal apparatus, stores the device identification information and the user information stored associated with the authentication information in a manner of associating them with one another when information coincident with the received authentication information is stored, determines, when receiving the user information, the device identification information and a service request from the terminal apparatus, whether information coincident with the user information and information coincident with the device identification information are stored, and provides a service concerning the service request when determining that information coincident with same the user information an

Abstract: A method for producing a solar battery cell which hardly causes an electric short circuit at the cut end surface of a solar battery element is provided. A method for producing a solar battery cell in which a solar battery cell is obtained from an elongated solar battery element including an elongated flexible base material, a first electrode layer, a light absorbing layer, and a second electrode layer in this order, and the method includes a partial removal step of forming one or more partial removal portion each extending like a belt at a plurality of parts in the surface of the solar battery element by partially removing layers of the second electrode layer through to the light absorbing layer or the second electrode layer through to the first electrode layer, and a cutting step of cutting the solar battery element at the partial removal portion.

Abstract: Provided are an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information processing program, and a recording medium having stored therein the information processing program, which can further reflect a user's preference with respect to a display order of information of a plurality of transaction targets as compared with the prior art. The information processing apparatus acquires review information of a user trying to select a transaction target, from a database that stores user's review information regarding a plurality of transaction targets and user's evaluation scores regarding each of a plurality of predetermined evaluation items in association with each piece of information of the plurality of transaction targets.

Abstract: Provided are an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, an information processing program, and a recording medium having stored therein the information processing program, which can reduce time and effort necessary for a user to find his desired review information. The information processing apparatus searches transaction targets, based on a search condition used for searching transaction targets designated by a user, and acquires review information regarding each of the searched transaction targets. The information processing apparatus determines a display priority order of the review information regarding the transaction targets with respect to each of the searched transaction targets, based on the search condition, and displays at least one piece of the review information regarding each of the transaction targets on a display screen, based on the display priority order.

Abstract: A method is provided that performs, based on a schedule, the printing of a plurality of images and the print head maintenance on the first face and the second face of a continuous sheet. The method includes: sensing a unique portion unsuitable for image printing that exists on the continuous sheet; and setting a printing schedule, when the unique portion is sensed in the first face or the second face, such that an image is prevented to be printed on the unique portion and a maintenance operation of the print head is performed at a region corresponding to the unique portion on the back face of the first or second face that has the unique portion.

Abstract: The movement detection apparatus acquires a movement state of an object by clipping a template pattern from first image data and seeking a region having a high correlation with the template pattern in second image data. The movement detection apparatus performs at least one of first processing, which analyzes the first image data, and second processing, which analyzes a relationship between the first image data and third image data acquired after the first image data has been acquired and before the second image data is acquired, and sets a position at which the template patter is clipped.

Abstract: When at least one of first image data and second image data is captured, according to a moving speed of an object while an image sensor is capturing an image, exposure time for capturing the image is controlled to decrease a difference between object blur widths in a direction in which the object moves.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus allows a print unit to print a sheet on which a user handwrites, and combines a handwritten image included in an image obtained by reading out a handwritten sheet with a background image, and prints the combined image. Further, a decor to determine decoration contents for the handwriting image and a painting pattern of a decorated area can be designated by the user, and the handwriting image is decorated according to the determined decoration contents and the painting pattern. Further, the decoration contents are determined according to the designated painting pattern as well as the designated decor. That is, the decor that the user desires may be adjusted to be suitable for the designated painting pattern and the decoration contents may be determined.

Abstract: A disabled state in which sheets cannot be discharged at a discharge unit while printing is detected. Upon detecting the disabled state, printing is continued at a printing unit, and a sheet printed upon is evacuated to a storage unit without cutting into a plurality of cut sheets at a cutter unit. After the disabled state is resolved, the sheet which has been evacuated to the storage unit is sent to the cutter unit so as to be cut into the cut sheets, and discharged at the discharge unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording medium having an ink receiving layer containing a binder which containing an acrylonitrile butadiene type copolymer, the butadiene concentration of the copolymer is 50 weight % or more, and an inorganic pigment on one or two sides of a base paper mainly composed of wood pulp, wherein the concentration ratio of the acrylonitrile butadiene type copolymer to 100 parts by weight of the inorganic pigment is from one part by weight to eight parts by weight, while 60 weight % or more of the inorganic pigment is kaolin with particles of 0.4 ?m or more and below 4.2 ?m which account for 64% or more as the cumulative value of the volumetric basis when measured using a laser diffraction method, and the surface roughness of the ink receiving layer is from 0.6 ?m to 1.4 ?m when a hard backing is used at a clamp pressure of 1,000 kPa according to JIS P8151.

Abstract: A disabled state in which sheets cannot be discharged at a discharge unit while printing is detected. Upon detecting the disabled state, printing is continued at a printing unit, and a sheet printed upon is evacuated to a storage unit without cutting into a plurality of cut sheets at a cutter unit. After the disabled state is resolved, the sheet which has been evacuated to the storage unit is sent to the cutter unit so as to be cut into the cut sheets, and discharged at the discharge unit.

Abstract: When at least one of first image data and second image data is captured, according to a moving speed of an object while an image sensor is capturing an image, exposure time for capturing the image is controlled to decrease a difference between object blur widths in a direction in which the object moves.