Abstract: A method for aiding product life cycle planning, including setting a threshold value concerning reuse of parts with respect to cost and environment; reading cost of parts and environment load information from a database; displaying parts on a map displayed on a display device and divided into a plurality of domains based on the threshold; selecting reuse candidate parts from the displayed parts with reference to the displayed map; calculating a useful life based condition formula for determining that parts are possible to reuse only in the case where a remaining useful life of parts j to be included in a reuse source product i remains more than a use period of a reuse destination product i? even if the use period of the reuse source product i is elapsed; determining whether the useful-life based condition formula is satisfied; and determining possibility of reuse with respect to the reuse candidate parts when the useful life based condition formula is satisfied.

Abstract: A communications system and method performs centralized signal processing on received audio signals. A plurality of terminals are coupled to a processing switch via links. The terminals can be, for example, dedicated speakerphones, desktop handsets, or personal computers with audio capabilities. The links can be wired or wireless, can carry analog or digital signals, and can be shared with other users in a network. The switch receives the audio data from the terminals, processes the data according to desired acoustical procedures, creates one or more output mixes, and provides the output mixes to the appropriate terminals. The operation of the processing switch is controlled by a communications support module (CSM) which can receive, process, and send data to/from multiple terminals simultaneously. The CSM receives audio signals from the terminals.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning apparatus includes a light source having first and second light source sections that hold a pair of semi-conductor laser diodes and coupling lenses that couple four beams irradiated from the pair of semi-conductor laser diodes with a base member. A light beam deviating device may be provided so as to deviate the four beams. A scan imaging device is also provided so as to scan a scan receiving surface with beam spots of the beams deviated by the light beam deviating device. A beam pitch-detecting device is also provided so as to detect a beam pitch of the respective beams formed on the scan-receiving surface. A beam pitch correcting device is provided in order to correct the beam pitch by causing relative deviation of a light axis among the respective beams on a sub scanning direction cross sectional plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous pigment dispersion that shows excellent dispersibility and storage stability, an inkjet ink that shows excellent jetability, water resistance, and adhesion, and a process for producing an aqueous pigment dispersion that shows excellent dispersibility and storage stability, as well as superior jetability, water resistance and adhesion. An aqueous pigment dispersion of the present invention comprises a dispersion formed by dispersing a monoalkyl maleate graft polymer of a maleic anhydride/?-olefin copolymer in water in the presence of a base, a pigment, and an aqueous medium.

Abstract: There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.

Abstract: A video network platform manages video network devices with management applications, such as scheduling, monitoring and diagnostics applications, by representing the devices as interface objects that support a network interface module, and application objects used by the management applications and created by an adapter engine that creates an application object for each corresponding video network device interface object. A network interface module associated with the video network platform invokes the adapter engine to create an application object associated with a device. The application object uses its dynamic attribute query capabilities to build an interface object in the network interface module and thus obtain device attributes such as device address information. The application module populates itself with device information for supporting management applications, thus allowing conventional network interface modules to cooperate with application specific objects.

Abstract: A radiation sensitive dielectric constant changing composition comprising (A) a decomposable compound, (B) a nondecomposable compound, (C) a radiation sensitive decomposer and (D) a stabilizer. The composition allows its dielectric constant to be changed by a simple method, has a sufficiently large difference between its changed dielectric constant and its original dielectric constant and can provide a dielectric constant pattern and an optical material which are stable regardless of their use conditions.

Abstract: A sealing structure for a solid-transferring screw installed inside a heating furnace such as a material-leveling screw and a product-discharging screw, the sealing structure enabling the solid-transferring screw to be lifted during operation while airtightness of the heating furnace is retained. A driving shaft of the solid-transferring screw passes through through-holes formed in side walls of the heating furnace and is supported by liftable supporting devices disposed outside the furnace. Sealing blocks are attached on outer edges of the through-holes to surround the periphery of the through-holes at the outside of the furnace. Sliding panels are disposed at outer sides of the sealing blocks and have sliding holes for sliding the screw-driving shaft so that the driving shaft extends through the sliding holes. The sliding panels are brought into contact with the sealing blocks via the sealing members therebetween so that the sliding panels are slidable in the vertical direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition useful for the oxidation dyeing of keratin fibres, in particular of human keratin fibres and more particularly the hair, comprising, preferably in a medium that is suitable for dyeing, at least one oxidation dye, wherein it also comprises at least one polyoxyalkylenated carboxylic acid ether or a salt thereof, and at least one quaternized cellulose comprising at least one fatty chain. The invention also relates to the dyeing devices and processes using the said composition.

Abstract: A fluorocopolymer which comprises (a) polymerized units based on tetrafluoroethylene and/or chlorotrifluoroethylene, (b) polymerized units based on a fluorinated monomer (excluding tetrafluoroethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene) and (c) polymerized units based on at least one member selected from the group consisting of itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, citraconic acid and citraconic anhydride, wherein (a) is from 50 to 99.8 mol %, (b) is from 0.1 to 49.99 mol %, and (c) is from 0.01 to 5 mol %, based on ((a)+(b)+(c)), and which has a volume flow rate of from 0.1 to 1000 mm3/sec.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an alignment mark which is arranged adjacent to each corner of a semiconductor chip, and a plug which contacts the alignment mark. The alignment mark is formed by part of the uppermost interconnection layer in a multilevel interconnection which is formed on the semiconductor chip and obtained by stacking low-permittivity insulating layers and interconnection layers. The plug is buried in a contact hole formed in the low-permittivity insulating layer below the alignment mark, and contacts the alignment mark.

Abstract: A clock recovery circuit comprises a phase comparator detecting phase differences between input data and sampling clocks and outputs them as pulse signals of two values of advanced and delayed, a low-pass filter reducing frequencies of the pulse signals outputted from the phase comparator and outputs reduced frequencies, a control signal generator monitoring the reduced frequencies and generates a phase control signal used to adjust the phase of each sampling clock to be small or large based on the ratio of the advanced and delayed signals, a phase interpolator adjusting the phase of each sampling clock upon receiving the phase control signal, and a frequency divider dividing the sampling clock having the adjusted phase by a predetermined frequency division ratio to output it, and controls the low-pass filter and control signal generator based on the frequency divided output.

Abstract: A compact excavator includes an upper rotating body mounted rotatably on a lower traveling body, an engine arranged on a rear section of the upper rotating body in a state where a drive shaft thereof is oriented in a horizontal direction, an hydraulic pump connected to the drive shaft, and a sound attenuating plate disposed on a front side of the engine across a width of the excavator. A longitudinal discontinuity is provided in a neighborhood of the pump so as to bring the sound attenuating barrier in a backward displaced state, a blocking portion for a longitudinal discontinuity in the sound attenuating barrier is provided with through holes, pipes extending from the pump, and communicating with a hydraulic device arranged on an outer periphery side of the upper rotating body on the opposite side of the pump are laterally inserted through the through holes.

Abstract: A synthetic resin cap is attached to the tip portion of a movable iron core of a solenoid operation portion, a sliding portion extending to the position of a magnetic plate is formed in the base end portion of the cap, a guiding concave step portion having a depth equal to or less than one half of the thickness of the magnetic plate is formed in the inner peripheral portion of the magnetic plate, and the movable iron core and the magnetic plate being not in contact with each other are held by the sliding portion fitted into the concave step portion so as to freely slide.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a semiconductor integrated circuit having a cell region in which a plurality of MOS transistors forming at least one cell are placed; and first and second power lines placed along one direction in a peripheral portion of the cell region, wherein in the cell region, gate grids for defining a first pitch in the one direction and pin grids for defining a second pitch in the one direction are set, gate electrodes of the MOS transistors are placed in accordance with the gate grids, and an interconnection layer is placed in accordance with the pin grids.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing an oxirane by reaction between an olefin and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst and an organic diluent, according to which the hydrogen peroxide is an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution obtained by extraction, with substantially pure water, of the mixture derived from the oxidation of at least one alkylanthrahydroquinone, without subsequent washing and/or purification treatment.

Abstract: A rotation state detecting device capable of detecting the direction of rotation of a rotating body includes first and second bridge circuits made up of magneto-resistance effect elements, a first comparator for detecting the increasing/decreasing direction of the center point voltage of the first bridge circuit, a second comparator for detecting the increasing/decreasing direction of the center point voltage of the second bridge circuit, a third comparator for detecting the difference between the center point voltage of the first bridge circuit and the center point voltage of the second bridge circuit, and logic value information deriving means for outputting “1” when the logic values of the outputs of the first comparator and the second comparator are both “1”, outputting “0” when they are both “0”, and continuing to output the previous value at other times, the direction of rotation of the rotating body being determined on the basis of a combination of the outputs of the first, second and third comparators

Abstract: There are provided a discharge lamp drive apparatus which can detect that both ends of at least one of a plurality of discharge lamps is in an open state in a differential drive scheme, and a liquid crystal display apparatus. A first current detection circuit 31 detects a current flowing through a first discharge lamp connection terminal group P1 or a current flowing through a second discharge lamp connection terminal group P3, and generates a first current detection signal S1. A second current detection circuit 32 detects a current flowing through the second discharge lamp connection terminal group P2 or a current flowing through a fourth discharge lamp connection terminal group P4, and generates a second current detection signal S2. A signal processor 30 receives the first current detection signal S1 and the second current detection signal S2, and generates a signal S01 which is used to detect an open state of a discharge lamp based on intensities of both the current detection signals S1 and S2.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing acrylamide with good storage stability and improved acrylamide polymer physical properties using a microbial catalyst. A microbial catalyst having catalytic activity to convert from acrylonitrile to acrylamide is washed with an aqueous acrylic acid solution, and then the washed microbial catalyst is used for the conversion reaction, so that the production of the above acrylamide is achieved.

Abstract: A system for controlling a processor having at least one sampling port connected to a stage of the processor in order to sample a reactant product from the processor. The system includes a controller configured to control a processing parameter of the processor based on measurements of at least one property of the reactant product such that changes to the processing parameter maintain a target value for the at least one property of the reactant product. The system further includes a dead time compensator. The dead time compensator is configured, based upon a prescribed dead time related to a time before at least one effect of at least one change to the processing parameter is fully realized, to evaluate the reactant product to determine if the effect has been realized at a plurality of sequential times offset from the dead time.