Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of attaining smooth gray scale display and greatly improved display quality, free from the display problems of flicker and the like. The resistance division ratios for gray scale voltage generating resistors provided in the source driver of a source line drive circuit for applying gray scale voltages to pixels via source lines are optimized in accordance with a gray scale display characteristic, and the positive-side voltage resistance division ratios and the negative-side voltage resistance division ratios are set so as to be asymmetrical with one another in consideration of a level shift characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the ligand polypeptide for the human pituitary- and mouse pancreas-derived G protein-coupled receptor proteins. The ligand polypeptide or the DNA which codes for the ligand polypeptide can be used for (1) development of medicines such as pituitary function modulators, central nervious system function modulators, and pancreatic function modulators, and (2) development of receptor binding assay systems using the expression of recombinant receptor proteins and screening of pharmaceutical candidate compounds. In particular, by the receptor binding assay systems utilizing the expression of recombinant G protein-coupled receptor proteins in accordance with the invention, agonists and antagonists of G protein-coupled receptors which are specific to human and other warm-blooded animals can be screened and the agonists or antagonists obtained can be used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents for various diseases.

Abstract: A reproduction power control device includes: an adapter/equalizer for adapt and equalizing a digital reproduction signal to a predetermined frequency characteristic so a post-equalization reproduction signal; and a reproduction power control unit for, based on an equalization amount in the adaptation and equalization by the adapter/equalizer, detecting an error between a current reproduction power and an optimal reproduction power and controlling a reproduction power of laser light so as to bring the error closer to 0. In this manner, it becomes possible to offer a reproduction power control method, a reproduction power control device, and a record reproducing device incorporating the same, capable of reproduction power control without reducing the user area on a recording medium.

Abstract: In a matrix display device, when cells of first to third colors composing one pixel are first to third cells, the second cell is disposed on one side of the first cell in a signal line alignment direction while disposing the third cell on the other side of the first cell in a scanning line alignment direction, and the first to third cells form the shape of a letter L. One pixel and another pixel adjacent to either side of the former pixel in the scanning line alignment direction are a first pixel in the shape of the letter L and a second pixel in the shape of the letter L and in a state rotating by 180° with respect to the first pixel, respectively.

Abstract: A column electrode driving circuit for an image display device for selecting, from among a plurality of reference voltage levels, reference voltage levels respectively corresponding to gray scale levels in input data, and outputting the respective selected voltage levels to at least one data line. The input data includes data of a first color, a second color, and a third color. The reference voltage levels are independently selected corresponding to the gray scale levels in the input data of the first, second, and third colors. Among the reference voltage levels independently selected corresponding to a given gray scale level in the input data of the first, second, and third colors, the reference voltage level selected corresponding to at least one color is different from the reference voltage level or levels selected corresponding to the other color or colors, the given gray scale level being within a predetermined range.

Abstract: An operation panel includes a mode which can selectively set the display form, whether new image information is formed by a dynamic image forming section, and a plurality of static image information are sequentially displayed in a display section together with static image information controlled in a guidance information control section, to thereby display for guidance to a user as continuous guidance image information, or the static image information controlled in the guidance information control section is displayed for guidance to a user as guidance image information.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element includes a pair of substrates made of plastic, a liquid crystal sandwiched between the pair of substrates, and a plurality of spacers for maintaining a gap d between the pair of substrates, which are sandwiched between the pair of substrates, and when x is an average value of thickness of the plurality of spacers in a state without a load in such a direction that the plurality of spacers are sandwiched between the pair of substrates, d<x≦1.1d is satisfied. Further, in the liquid crystal display element, a numerical density of the spacers is set to be not less than 240 pieces/mm2 and not more than 300 pieces/mm2. Further, in the liquid crystal display element, an elastic modulus of the spacers is set to be larger than that of the pair of substrates. As a result, in the liquid crystal display element, color shading is suppressed while suppressing generation of bubbles in a vacuum region and reduction in contrast, thus obtaining desirable display quality of a display image.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes one sheet roll wound with one end of a polishing sheet that is arranged to be in contact with the surface of a liquid crystal panel, and the other sheet roll for rolling up the polishing sheet from the other end. The substrate cleaning apparatus further includes a rotating unit provided with a motor, a belt, and a rotation shaft for rotating the polishing sheet and the pair of sheet rolls with respect to the liquid crystal panel. Thus, the substrate cleaning apparatus can be provided which is capable of reducing an operation time required for removing foreign matters, enhancing operation efficiency, stably and reliably removing foreign matters, and restraining operation time even if the size of the substrate increases.

Abstract: The electron-source array of the present invention is provided with cathode electrodes placed on an insulation substrate in the form of lines; and gate electrodes that are placed face to face with the cathode electrodes with the insulation film being interpolated in between. In this arrangement, the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes are arranged so as to intersect each other with a pore being formed at an intersecting portion between each cathode electrode and each gate electrode in a manner so as to penetrate the insulation film, and the pore is filled with a conductive material or a semiconductive material with the material being electrically connected to the corresponding cathode electrode, and is formed in a manner so as to separate from the gate electrodes with a space in between. Thus, it becomes possible to form very fine emitters uniformly without the need for a high-precision patterning technique and consequently to provide an electron-source array that enables an X-Y matrix driving process.

Abstract: When the paper size signal indicates small-sized paper, after the final sheet of a consecutive sheet feed operation of that size has passed through the heating device, paired rollers consisting of heat and pressing rollers are actuated to rotate for a predetermined period (rotational mode) while no sheet passes therethrough. After completion of the rotational mode, the paired rollers are stopped from rotating for a predetermined period (stationary mode).

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device using plastic substrates in which deformation such as warpage and distortion hardly occurs. The reflection type liquid crystal display device includes a light transmitting plastic substrate and a plastic substrate provided with a reflecting layer. The substrates are positioned facing each other to be kept fixed relative to each other with a predetermined space therebetween defined by spacers or the like. A liquid crystal layer is formed in the space between the substrates and sealed with a sealing agent. A polarizing plate along with an adhesive is attached to the outer surface of the light transmitting plastic substrate, and a polycarbonate substrate along with an adhesive is attached to the outer surface of the reflector-attached plastic substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming an insulator film at a semiconductor temperature of 600° C. or less comprises the steps of forming a first insulator film by oxidizing a surface of a semiconductor in an atmosphere containing oxygen atom radicals, and forming a second insulator film on the first insulator film by deposition without exposing the first insulator film to outside air.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a developer carrier carrying a developer on its surface, a developer regulating member regulating layer thickness of the developer, a charge amount control member controlling the charge amount of the developer and a charge supplying apparatus downstream of the charge amount control member. The charge amount control member controls the amount of charges of the developer, by causing the developer fly over the developer carrier, using an AC voltage applied between the developer carrier and the charge amount control member, and by applying the electric charges generated by gas electrolytic dissociation caused by the AC voltage. By this structure, a developing apparatus can be provided which can improve stability of development and image quality, without necessitating delicate arrangement of the component materials of the developer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus with a charging member which charges an image bearer with a photoconductive surface. Forming a layer containing ferroelectric as part on the charging member, and applying the electric field formed by dipoles of the ferroelectric, the photosensitive member surface is electrified, thereby downsizing a charger and reducing power consumption thereof are achieved for realizing low-cost and reducing the number of consumable parts sufficiently.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a display device of an image forming apparatus capable of displaying information that the user wants to obtain in a visually easy-to-recognize manner. In a complex image forming apparatus provided with: one of original reading means for reading image information from an original, image receiving means for receiving image information from a terminal connected to a network and a line image receiving means for receiving image information from a telephone line; image forming means for forming an image based on the image information obtained by the means; and a display portion for displaying the condition of the apparatus, a display condition control portion is provided that changes the display condition of the display portion to a visually easy-to-recognize condition when the condition of the complex image forming apparatus is changed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a laminated sheet comprising an alumina fiber precursor, which process comprises spinning out an alumina fiber precursor from a solution mainly comprising an aluminum compound, falling and stacking said alumina fiber precursor on the surface of an accumulator to form a thin lamina sheet of alumina fiber precursor, continuously pulling out said lamina sheet from the accumulator, transferring the resultant lamina sheet to a folding device, and folding the sheet by a predetermined width while stacking the folded sheet and continuously moving the stacking sheet in the direction orthogonal to the folding direction.

Abstract: In an optical reproducing device in accordance with the present invention, based on an error rate used in a test read for determining an optimal reproducing power, the value of an error rate corresponding to the maximum burst error which can be corrected by an error correction circuit is obtained. With this structure, an error caused when reproducing power deviates from the optimal reproducing power determined by the test read due to an control error can be corrected by the error detection circuit.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording and reproduction device includes an optical pickup for irradiating a magneto-optical disk with a laser beam for performing at least one of information recording to a magneto-optical disk, information reproduction from the magneto-optical disk, and information erasure from the magneto-optical disk; a magnetic head for providing a magnetic field to a position of the magneto-optical disk irradiated with the laser beam for performing at least one of the information recording and the information erasure, the magnetic head being located opposite to the optical pickup with respect to the magneto-optical disk where the magneto-optical disk is mounted on the magneto-optical recording and reproduction device; a housing for accommodating the optical pickup; a guide shaft for moving the housing; a suspension for supporting the magnetic head; and an arm for connecting the suspension and the housing.

Abstract: A precision product container of the present invention comprises a resin composition as a base material, which comprises a polycarbonate resin and an epoxy compound. Such precision product container can remarkably prevent products contained therein from being contaminated by chlorine and is suitable as a container for a precision product which is free from operational errors of the precision product contained therein when this product is subsequently assembled or processed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for permeabilization of a cell structure consisting of a single cell, an intracellular structure or an organelle comprising the following steps: (a) microelectrodes, preferably two carbon fibre electrodes or hollow fibre electrodes, are provided, (b) the microelectrodes are connected to a power supply, (c) the electrodes, individually controlled by high-graduation micromanipulators, are placed close to the cell structure at an appropriate inter-electrode distance, and (d) a highly focused electric field of a strength sufficient to obtain electroporation is applied between the electrodes. The method may be used in order to transfer cell impermeant solutes, such as drugs or genes, into the cell structure or out of the cell structure, in biosensors, in the treatment of tumours and neurodegenerative diseases and in the study of biophysical processes.