Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains silver as a main component, a total of 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb, and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn. The silver alloy reflective film preferably further contains 0.1 to 3 atomic percent of yttrium. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A sputtering target for depositing the silver alloy reflective film contains silver as a main component, 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of Sb (or 0.03 to 10 atomic percent of Bi), and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn.

Abstract: An electrifying apparatus, a processing unit including the electrifying apparatus, and an image formation apparatus including the electrifying apparatus. The electrifying apparatus includes a conductive sheet for electrifying at least one of a surface of a photoconductor and toner adhered to the surface. The conductive sheet is specified to have a pure-water contact angle equal to or greater than 108 degrees, and to have a shore D hardness equal to or less than 65.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing system and an image processing method, an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup method, and an image display device and an image display method, which can faithfully pick up and display the colors of an object. Slit light of an optical image of the object that has passed through a slit 42 is divided into a spectrum by a light divider 43. A light sensor 44 outputs image data based on the spectrum of the slit light of the optical image of the object. A micromirror array 74 causes the exiting of reflection light formed by extracting spectrum portions based on the image data from a spectrum of incident white light from a light divider 73. The spectrum portions of the reflection light exiting from the micromirror array 74 are synthesized by a spectrum synthesizer 77 and are projected onto a screen 111. The present invention is applicable to the image processing system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feed cassette for storing a sheet. The sheet feed cassette includes a protective sheet which is provided on a portion of the sheet feed cassette that contacts the sheet so as to prevent adhesive material from sticking thereto. The image forming apparatus further includes a sheet conveyance path that transports a sheet, and a protective sheet provided on a portion of the sheet conveyance path that contacts the sheet so as to prevent an adhesive material from sticking thereto.

Abstract: A cell array selection circuit, a cell array bit line precharge circuit, and a sense amplifier bit line precharge circuit are provided in a semiconductor storage apparatus. In a standby state of read/write operation, the cell array selection circuit is controlled to an inactive state, and the bit line precharge circuits are controlled to an active state. In an active state of read/write operation, the cell array selection circuit to be selected is controlled to an active state, and the cell array bit line precharge circuit and the sense amplifier bit line precharge circuit are controlled to an inactive state. Cell array selection transistors, sense amplifier bit line precharge transistors, and control signals supplied to gate electrodes of the transistors are set in which change in potential provided on a cell array bit line pair when the states of the transistors change is cancelled.

Abstract: In a data communication method, when packet data are sent and received among a plurality of computers connected each other via the network, communications are established by using a unicast connection. Then, the packet data are sent by selectively using a multicast communication and the unicast communication for at least one computer to which the communication is established. As a result, it is possible to reduce an amount of network traffic under a peer-to-peer network without intermediation of a server and improve reliability of the multicast communication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field-effect microelectronic device, and the production method thereof. Said device comprises a substrate (700) and at least one improved structure (702), capable of forming one or several transistor channels. Said structure, composed of several bars stacked on the substrate, may allow space saving in the integration of field-effect transistors and the performances thereof to be improved.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a support substrate, and a light transmission layer 12 that is disposed so as to come in contact with the support substrate. At least one of a refractive index of the support substrate and a refractive index of the light transmission layer, and an extinction coefficient of the support substrate and an extinction coefficient of the light transmission layer is different. As such, according to the invention, a reflective layer is not formed between the support substrate and the light transmission layer, such that the support substrate and the light transmission layer directly come in contact with each other. Accordingly, since at least one of the refractive index and the extinction coefficient is different, reflection occurs at the interface between the support substrate and the light transmission layer. Therefore, data held by a plurality of pits, that are arranged on the support substrate in a spiral shape or a concentric shape, can be correctly read out.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus of a vehicular automatic transmission has a plurality of hydraulic friction engagement devices that are selectively engaged and released to establish a plurality of forward speed change stages of different speed change ratios. The forward speed change stages are achieved through engagement of predetermined friction engagement devices, of the plurality of friction engagement devices. If it is determined that a predetermined speed change stage corresponding to a predetermined shift output is not established, the hydraulic control apparatus identifies a hydraulic friction engagement device having a bad engagement that is a cause of the non-establishment of the predetermined speed change stage, on the basis of the state of engagement oil pressure of the predetermined friction engagement device.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting the housing state such as the thickness of a substrate in the present invention is provided at supporting arms. The supporting arms are attached to a supporting shaft. The supporting arms are in a vertical state in a state before detection of the substrate, but when detecting, the supporting shaft rotates to bring the supporting arms into a horizontal state so that the optical sensor enters a substrate housing body and is set at a predetermined detection position. Accordingly, a space for moving the optical sensor in the horizontal direction becomes unnecessary to reduce the space required for the detecting operation and the like, making it possible to reduce the size of a substrate processing apparatus in which the detecting apparatus is incorporated.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber for containing a substrate to be processed, a gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas into the chamber, and a microwave introducing unit for introducing plasma generating microwaves into the chamber. The microwave introducing unit includes a microwave oscillator for outputting a plurality if microwaves having specified outputs, and an antenna section having a plurality of antennas to which the microwaves outputted from the microwave oscillator are respectively transmitted.

Abstract: An industrially advantageous process for producing adamantane by which high-purity adamantane reduced in coloration is efficiently produced while minimizing the loss. The process, which is for producing adamantane by isomerizing trimethylenenorbornane, includes (A) a reaction step of isomerizing the starting material, (B) a concentration step of concentrating the adamantane contained in the resultant liquid reaction mixture, (C) a crystallization step of precipitating the concentrated adamantane, (D) a solid-liquid separation step of separating the adamantane crystals from the slurry resulting from the crystallization, (E) a washing step of washing the isolated adamantane crystals, and (F) a drying step of drying the adamantane crystals washed, characterized in that the mass ratio of the endo-trimethylenenorbornane to the adamantane each contained in the materials to be subjected to the crystallization step (C) (endo-trimethylenenorbornane/adamantane) is 0.25 or lower.

Abstract: Dynamic up-link bandwidth allocation is realized in a optical communication system in which a plurality of subscriber devices with mutually different device configurations are connected to a station unit, by configuring the station unit to consider device configurations of the subscriber devices in performing up-link bandwidth allocation.

Abstract: Process migration method includes copying first process context indicative of first processing, transmitting process context to second computer, causing first computer to start generation of first execution record, causing second computer to receive process context, determining, from first execution record, whether first processing should be migrated, if it is determined that first processing should postpone being migrated, finishing generation of first execution record, starting generation of second execution record, transmitting first execution record to second computer, reproducing process context, and determining, from second execution record, whether first processing should be migrated, after reproducing of process context is finished in the second computer.

Abstract: There is provided a thin-film transistor that is formed on an insulating substrate, is capable of a high-speed operation, has small non-uniformity among devices, is hardly susceptible to device destruction due to high voltage, and is free from the effect of a parasitic transistor that forms at an edge part of an Si island. The thin-film semiconductor device is formed using a thin-film semiconductor provided on the insulating substrate and includes a gate region for formation of a channel region through which a drain current flows. The gate region has a ring shape in plan on the insulating substrate. High concentration impurity-doped regions are dividedly provided on an inside and an outside of the ring-shaped gate region, and the channel region is formed of a plurality of fan-shaped semiconductor single-crystal portions.

Abstract: An installation for non-destructive inspection makes use simultaneously of sensors responsive to different physical characteristics. In an example, a sensor support, e.g. a kind of carriage having running wheels via which it comes into contact with the surface to be inspected, is fitted with two types of sensor, namely an eddy current sensor and at least one ultrasound sensor.

Abstract: In an ad-hoc established device network, a profile based handover of the network control functionality is performed whenever a new device (15) requests association with the network and the central controller (16) does not support the profile of the new device (15). A database is searched for a controller-capable device that supports both the profiles of the network devices and the profile of the new device. The former central controller (16) passes the control functionality to the controller-capable device (17), which becomes the new central controller (24). Thus it is possible to associate the new device (15) with the network. The invention allows to integrate devices supporting different profiles into a common network.

Abstract: A recording method for converting m-bit data into n-bit (where n>m) bit data whose run length is restricted and recoding the converted data on a recording medium, the recording method comprising the steps of when at least preceded data is data containing a special data pattern, lightening the restriction of the run length; and recording data so that the cumulative value of DC components per unit time increase when the data is reproduced in the state that the run length is restricted.

Abstract: A maximum likelihood decoder includes metric generators for generating metrics based on a plurality of partial responses and a Viterbi decoder for realizing maximum likelihood decoding by using a synthetic metric generated by synthesizing the metrics. A first partial response is an original partial response. A second partial response is a differential response generated by subtraction by shifting the first partial response by 1 clock. Alternatively, the differential response may be generated by subtraction by shifting the first partial response by 2 clocks. The second partial response may be a response generated by addition by shifting the first partial response by 2 clocks. Alternatively, the second partial response may be an integration response generated by adding all previous samples of the first partial response.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and optionally a protective layer overlying the photosensitive layer, wherein an outermost layer of the photoreceptor includes a filler, a binder resin and an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g. The photosensitive layer can be the outermost layer. A coating liquid for an outermost layer of a photoreceptor including a filler, a binder resin, an organic compound having an acid value of from 10 to 700 mgKOH/g and plural organic solvents. A method for preparing a photoreceptor including forming a photosensitive layer, and coating the coating liquid on the photosensitive layer. An image forming method and apparatus and a process cartridge using the photoreceptor are also provided.