Abstract: A surface wave plasma (SWP) source having an electromagnetic (EM) wave launcher configured to couple EM energy in a desired EM wave mode to a plasma by generating a surface wave on a plasma surface of the EM wave launcher adjacent the plasma. A power coupling system is coupled to the EM wave launcher, and configured to provide the EM energy to the EM wave launcher for forming the plasma. A mode scrambler coupled to the plasma surface of the EM wave launcher, and configured to reduce mode jumping between the desired EM wave mode and another EM wave mode.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator has an amplifier circuit which includes an inductor and a variable capacitance element, and outputs an oscillation signal of an oscillation frequency corresponding to an oscillation frequency control voltage supplied to the variable capacitance element; and a power supply circuit which supplies an operation current to the amplifier circuit, wherein by changing the operation current outputted from the power supply circuit in a state where the oscillation frequency control voltage is fixed to a desired value, a value of the operation current at which the oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal takes a value in the vicinity of a maximum value, is extracted, and the extracted value of the operation current is set as a value of the operation current outputted from the power supply circuit.

Abstract: A process cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus includes a first unit, a second unit, and a coupling shaft. The first unit includes an image carrier, while the second unit includes a developer carrier. The coupling shaft is configured to couple the first unit and the second unit so as to be pivotable relative to each other. A distance between the image carrier and the developer carrier is adjustable by pivoting at least one of the first unit and the second unit without releasing the coupling of the first unit and the second unit via the coupling shaft.

Abstract: A parts management system which is capable of preventing use of a non-conforming part. A first computer for a user has component parts for an apparatus, delivered to the user. A second computer for a manufacturer is connected via a communication network to the first computer, and has a database provided therein which includes a list having fields for a plurality of kinds of management data for the apparatus component parts in association with each of ID numbers of the apparatus component parts. In the second computer, the management data on the apparatus component parts is acquired from the first computer via the communication network, and the acquired management data is compared with management data within the database.

Abstract: An optical detection device image is disclosed that allows fast measurements using near-field light at high resolution and high efficiency but without necessity of position alignment of an optical fiber probe. The optical detection device includes an optical fiber probe having a core for propagating light with an optical probe being formed at a front end of the core; a movement control unit to move the optical fiber probe to approach or depart from a sample; and a detection unit to detect light from the sample surface, wherein on the front end surface of the core of the optical probe, there are a first exit section on a peripheral side for emitting propagating light and a second exit section for seeping out the near-field light, the first exit section and the second exit section are formed in a concentric manner, and the tilt angle of the first exit section is different from the tilt angle of the second exit section.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of cultivating potato. In the invention, Compound (A) of a specified structure having a C10 to C22 hydrocarbon group is applied at least once in a period from a planting stage to a flowering stage of potato.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus and an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program make it possible to generate a positive history vector and a negative history vector. A negative history vector is generated from initially registered contents. If the initially registered contents are not changed, and an operation log is supplied, whether or not the supplied operation log is a positive history is determined. When the supplied operation log is a positive history, a program vector corresponding to the operation log is additionally stored as a positive history, and a positive history vector is generated from a sum of program vectors. When the supplied operation log is a negative history, a program vector corresponding to the operation log is additionally stored as a negative history, and a negative history vector is generated from a sum of program vectors.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma process on a target substrate includes a process container configured to accommodate the target substrate and to reduce pressure therein. A first electrode is disposed within the process container. A supply system is configured to supply a process gas into the process container. An electric field formation system is configured to form an RF electric field within the process container so as to generate plasma of the process gas. A number of protrusions are discretely disposed on a main surface of the first electrode and protrude toward a space where the plasma is generated.

Abstract: A method of reading out data from nonvolatile semiconductor memory including the steps of applying a first voltage to a bit line contact; applying a second voltage to a source line contact, wherein the second voltage is substantially smaller than the first voltage; applying a third voltage gates of third and fourth select gate transistors, the third voltage configured to bring the third and fourth select gate transistors into conduction; applying a fourth voltage to gates of the plurality of memory cell transistors of a second memory cell unit, the fourth voltage configured to bring the plurality of memory cell transistors of the second memory cell unit into conduction or not, depending on the data that is stored in the memory cell unit; and applying a fifth voltage to gates of the plurality of memory cell transistors of a first memory cell unit, the fifth voltage configured to bring the plurality of memory cell transistors of the first memory cell unit into conduction; wherein the fifth voltage is bigger tha

Abstract: A rake apparatus includes a tongue with a hitch, front rake arm positioners each pivotally connected to a forward portion of the tongue assembly, rear rake arm positioners pivotally connected to a rear portion of the tongue assembly, and rake arm assemblies including a rake arm assembly front end and a rake arm assembly back end. The rake arm assemblies are pivotally connected to one of the front rake arm positioners and one of the rear rake arm positioners. Distances between the rake arm assembly front ends and the tongue are greater when the rake arm assemblies are in an operating position than when they are in a traveling position. The rake arm assembly back end of each of the rake arm assemblies is positioned farther in the forward direction when the rake arm assemblies are in the operating position than when the rake arm assemblies are in the traveling position.

Abstract: In a transfer device which mediates communication between first communication devices and a second communication device via a network, a first receiver unit receives collectively operation responses from the first communication devices, the operation responses being created to operation requests of the second communication device respectively. A first transmitter unit transmits collectively the operation responses received by the first receiver unit, to the second communication device as a destination of each of the operation responses. A second receiver unit receives collectively the operation requests which are sent to the first communication devices by the second communication device, from the second communication device. A second transmitter unit transmits collectively the operation requests received by the second receiver unit, to the first communication devices as respective destinations of the operation requests.

Abstract: A temperature-humidity exchanger comprising: a moisture permeable membrane which transmits moisture therethrough; a dry gas separator in which low-temperature dry gas is caused to flow; and a wet gas separator in which high-temperature wet gas is caused to flow, in which the moisture permeable membrane, the dry gas separator, the moisture permeable membrane, and the wet gas separator are repeatedly stacked in the stated order, wherein in the dry gas separator and the wet gas separator: a plurality of channel grooves which are divided by half in the stacking direction, are open to a direction in which the channel grooves come into contact with the moisture permeable membrane, and are arrayed parallel to one another are provided; an aggregate communication groove which is made to communicate with both end portions of the plurality of channel grooves, for aggregating gas caused to flow through the channel grooves to at least one is provided; and a supply manifold and an exhaust manifold which are made to communi

Abstract: A coupling optical system that includes a coupling lens, a linear-image forming lens, and an aperture couples light beams emitted from a light source to form a light flux. A deflector scans the light flux in a main scanning direction to form an image as a scanning line on a surface to be scanned through first and second scanning lenses. While an image is being formed on an image plane, the image plane is moved in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The linear-image forming lens has a diffractive optical surface capable of collecting light in a sub-scanning direction. The temperature dependence d?/dT of wavelength of the light source satisfies d?/dT<0.15.

Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber for accommodating therein an object to be processed, a plurality of bar-shaped magnets rotatably installed standing around the processing chamber, a rotation driving mechanism for synchronously rotating the bar-shaped magnets, a rotation detection unit for detecting a rotation of a bar-shaped magnet and clocking times corresponding to the detected rotation, and an abnormal rotation determination unit for determining whether the rotation driving mechanism is abnormal by comparing an interval calculated from the clocked times to a time period.

Abstract: An image analysis method for analyzing the motion of an object by using the time-series image data. The method comprises inputting time-series image data, generating time-series object image data by extracting an object region from the time-series image data, and analyzing the motion of the object from the time-series object image data.

Abstract: The honeycomb structured body of the present invention is a pillar-shaped honeycomb structured body having a honeycomb structure that a number of through holes are placed in parallel with one another in the length direction with a wall portion interposed therebetween and one of ends of each through hole is sealed, wherein a relation between a volume Y (L) of said honeycomb structured body and an aperture ratio X (%) on an inlet side satisfies the following inequality (1): Y??1.1X+68.5 (wherein Y?19, 35?X?56)??(1).

Abstract: A charging method using a use point that is a unit, common to a plurality of apparatuses, of charging according to use thereof includes the steps of (a) converting a result of use of each of functions of each of the apparatuses to use points, (b) totaling the use points of each of the apparatuses obtained in the step (a) based on a predetermined unit, and (c) charging for use of each of the apparatuses based on the use points totaled in the step (b).

Abstract: When receiving a packet sent thereto from a mobile terminal that is a sending source, a subscriber packet exchange apparatus encapsulates the packet with a multicast address without acquiring information on a routing area in which another mobile terminal that is a destination is currently located from a home location register, and routes the packet to another subscriber packet exchange apparatus that manages the routing area in which the destination mobile terminal is currently located. As a result, the moving object IP packet communication system can carry out the transmission of data packets between the source and destination mobile terminals while reducing the transfer delay.

Abstract: A light deflector is disclosed that includes a bearing, a motor, a rotary body supported by the bearing and rotated by the motor, and a polygon mirror fixed to the rotary body. The motor includes an annular permanent magnet circumferentially magnetized with six poles and fixed to the rotary body, a rotational position detector part configured to detect the rotational position of the permanent magnet, and a stator assembly including a stator core and nine coils fixed to the stator core.

Abstract: A polylactic acid composition containing polylactic acid and ester-based plasticizer, wherein a content of the ester-based plasticizer is 16 to 33 wt %, and when the composition is highly deformed by stress loading as the relation between the stress and the deformation deviates from linear viscoelastic behavior and thereafter the stress is released, residual deformation measured after the stress is released is not less than 66.0% after 0.2 minute of the stress release, and is not more than 34.0% after 240 hours of the stress release.