Abstract: An inventory management method or system for controlling amounts of stocks is provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is that calculates a suitable quantity of inventory based on forecast information.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make high-accuracy order forecasts based on forecast information. In the present invention, quantities of orders are forecasted based on forecast information indicating required quantities for a plurality of scheduled delivery dates or scheduled delivery periods. First, conversion coefficients that are ratios of one or more required quantities contained in sets of past forecast information to one or more corresponding actual order quantities are calculated (S1, S2), next, the standard deviation of a plurality of conversion coefficients whose forecast LTs, defined as the period between forecast receive date and scheduled delivery date, are the same is calculated (S3).

Abstract: In an image data processing apparatus having a HDD for storing image data, spatial filter processing, in which a dynamic range for output is set wider than a dynamic range for input, is applied to image data to be output to an external apparatus in a spatial filter processing unit, resolution conversion processing for converting a density into a high density is applied to the image data after the processing in a resolution conversion processing unit, gamma correction processing is applied to the image data after the processing in a gamma correction processing unit, and the image data after the processing is converted into a predetermined format in a processing unit for external output and is sent to an external apparatus from a network I/F.

Abstract: A temperature control technique and an exposure technique are provided with which high temperature control accuracy can be realized even when a device, which causes thermal fluctuation depending on a temperature-controlled fluid, is used. A gas recovered from a reticle chamber as the temperature control objective, and a high purity purge gas supplied from a gas supply source are mixed in a mixing section. The temperature of the mixed gas is lowered by a refrigerator. Subsequently, the humidity of the gas is measured by a temperature sensor. The gas is then supplied to the reticle chamber via a heating mechanism, a chemical filter which absorbs or generates heat depending on the humidity and a dust protective filter. The heating amount to the gas by the heating mechanism is controlled based on temperature information by a temperature sensor in the reticle chamber and humidity information by the humidity sensor.

Abstract: An aluminum-coated structural member includes an Al—Si—Fe alloy layer formed on a steel substrate layer. The alloy layer includes a softer region having a hardness smaller than or equal to a hardness of the steel substrate layer, extends from the surface of the steel substrate layer toward a surface of the alloy layer, over a depth range greater than or equal to 50% of a thickness of the alloy layer. The Al—Si—Fe alloy layer has an oxide weight smaller than or equal to 500 mg/dm2.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus capable of high-quality reproduction in which a black isolation point does not lie scattered even for a manuscript document having a colored background.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes image data and transmits processed image data to an external unit includes a content determination unit that determines content of image processing to be applied to image data for each image data, an image processing unit that applies the image processing of the content determined by the content determination unit to the image data, and a transmission unit that transmits the image data processed by the image processing unit to an external unit.

Abstract: A chemical filter, which removes chemical pollutants from gas and controls temperature fluctuation of the gas before and after passing through the filter to within a predetermined range, is arranged in a portion of a ventilation path extending from a machine chamber housing at least a portion of an air conditioning unit to a main body chamber housing an exposure apparatus main body. Accordingly, the atmosphere around the exposure apparatus main body arranged downstream of the chemical filter is kept chemically clean, and the temperature fluctuation of the gas, of which the temperature is set to a target temperature by the air conditioner, after passing through the chemical filter is limited. That is, occurrence of a problem such as an illumination reduction caused by tarnish of optical members and an increase of the temperature fluctuation amount of the gas supplied into the main body chamber can be effectively limited.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) stores a plurality of image data in a first format in a compressed form. An image format converter converts the format of the image data to a second format. The second format is a general format, as such as JPEG or TIFF. When transmitting the image data to an external PC, the image data in both the first format and the second format is transmitted.

Abstract: The image data corresponding to an image is separated into areas corresponding to contents of the image. The image data in each of the area is subjected to an image processing specific to the content of the image. The image types are, for example, a character, a photograph, color, and presence of halftone. The image processing are, for example, gamma correction, color conversion, and gradation processing. The processed image data is then transferred to an external device via network.

Abstract: An image reader scans a document to thereby acquire image data. This image data is in a first format and is stored in a memory. When an external device requests for the image data, a format converter, converts the image data in the first format into an image data in a second format that is acceptable to the external device. The external device forms an image on a recording medium using the image data in the second format.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head having a means for cutting a wafer into bars, each bar having a plurality of thin-film magnetic head sliders which are sequentially coupled with each other, a means for identifying the bar to be worked to generate an identification signal which indicates identity of said bar, a means for obtaining data of said bar in a unit of bar depending upon said identification signal, and a means for processing at least one working of said bar on the basis of said obtained data of said bar.

Abstract: An aluminum-coated structural member includes an Al—Si—Fe alloy layer formed on a steel substrate layer. The alloy layer includes a softer region having a hardness smaller than or equal to a hardness of the steel substrate layer, extends from the surface of the steel substrate layer toward a surface of the alloy layer, over a depth range greater than or equal to 50% of a thickness of the alloy layer. The Al—Si—Fe alloy layer has an oxide weight smaller than or equal to 500 mg/dm2.

Abstract: Provided is a method for washing an impurities-containing polycarbonate/organic solvent solution with an aqueous washing solution, which comprises monitoring the viscosity of the mixture dispersion of the polycarbonate/organic solvent solution and the aqueous washing solution, and controlling the blend ratio of the aqueous washing solution in the system on the basis of the relation between the phase condition and the viscosity of the mixture dispersion. In the method of washing a polycarbonate/organic solvent solution with an aqueous washing solution, the amount of the washing solution to be used is reduced, and the mixture dispersion of the two solutions is stabilized at a high level of washing efficiency. The washing method is economical in practical use.

Abstract: Provided is a method for washing an impurities-containing polycarbonate/organic solvent solution with an aqueous washing solution, which comprises monitoring the viscosity of the mixture dispersion of the polycarbonate/organic solvent solution and the aqueous washing solution, and controlling the blend ratio of the aqueous washing solution in the system on the basis of the relation between the phase condition and the viscosity of the mixture dispersion. In the method of washing a polycarbonate/organic solvent solution with an aqueous washing solution, the amount of the washing solution to be used is reduced, and the mixture dispersion of the two solutions is stabilized at a high level of washing efficiency. The washing method is economical in practical use.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric element and a lead wire for supplying a drive signal to the piezoelectric element. A melt material is immersed into a fusing agent. A quantity of the material and the fusing agent is supplied to a transfer plate and then adjusted. A preselected quantity of the melt material and the fusing agent is then transferred preselected quantity of the melt material and the fusing agent is supplied from the transfer tool to the lead wire. The melt material is then welded on the lead wire and on the piezoelectric element to thereby connect the lead wire to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: In the image reading apparatus, reference color patches used to determine the necessity of calibration are read, and the read image for the reference color patches is stored. The read image is converted using a color conversion function from data for a device-dependent RGB space to sRGB data for a standard color space to obtain sRGB reference image data. The converted read image and the sRGB reference image are displayed on a CRT. An operator compares the two images and performs an entry operation for executing calibration if the amount of displacement between the two is significant.

Abstract: A chemical filter, which removes chemical pollutants from gas and controls temperature fluctuation of the gas before and after passing through the filter to within a predetermined range, is arranged in a portion of a ventilation path extending from a machine chamber housing at least a portion of an air conditioning unit to a main body chamber housing an exposure apparatus main body. Accordingly, the atmosphere around the exposure apparatus main body arranged downstream of the chemical filter is kept chemically clean, and the temperature fluctuation of the gas, of which the temperature is set to a target temperature by the air conditioner, after passing through the chemical filter is limited. That is, occurrence of a problem such as an illumination reduction caused by tarnish of optical members and an increase of the temperature fluctuation amount of the gas supplied into the main body chamber can be effectively limited.

Abstract: A method for controlling a machining process of a workpiece includes a step of measuring amounts of machining of the workpiece by a plurality of sensors located at different positions on the workpiece, the sensors providing detection signals which represent the respective measured amounts, a step of removing the detection signal when the detection signal has an abnormal value which is extremely different in comparison with values of the other detection signals by using a smoothing method, and a step of controlling the machining of the workpiece depending upon the remaining detection signals from the sensors.