Abstract: A metal element density is lowered in a crystalline silicon film obtained by four hour treatment at about 550.degree. C. by using a catalyst metal which accelerates crystallization. At the same time, a crystalline silicon film can be obtained which has a high crystallinity. For this purpose, extremely oxide film 13 is formed on an amorphous silicon film formed on this glass substrate in the beginning. An aqueous solution of acetate added with 10 to 200 ppm (need adjustment) of catalyst element like nickel or the like is dripped. This state is held for a predetermined time. Then the spin drying is performed by using a spinner. The film is crystallized by four hour treatment at 550.degree. C. Then a localized nickel component is removed by the fluoric acid treatment. Further, the crystalline silicon film is obtained by laser light irradiation. Then a crystalline silicon film is obtained having a low density of metal element and a small defect density by four hour heat treatment at 550.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement of carbon brake disks for an aircraft brake unit comprising stators coupled to a torsion tube alternating with rotors coupled to the corresponding wheel. The arrangement is organized in two configurations corresponding to operation over two successive wear strokes of the pistons of the brake ring, with a first of the configurations comprising a central group of rotors and stators arranged between a front lateral stator and a rear lateral stator, and with a second of the configurations comprising the same front lateral stator and the same rotors and stators of the central group, but arranged between a spacer disk of thickness less than the wear stroke of the pistons, and a new rear lateral stator of thickness greater than that of the preceding rear lateral stator.

Abstract: A zoom lens barrel includes first and second lens groups arranged along an optical axis. A first drive mechanism moves the first lens group only in the direction of the optical axis for focusing. A second drive mechanism moves both the first and second lens groups in the direction of the optical axis for zooming. A rotary barrel which is rotated by the second drive mechanism is provided with a cam groove which guides the second lens group in response to rotation of the rotary lens barrel during zooming. A cam follower is provided on the lens holder of the second lens group and is in engagement with the cam groove. The cam groove consists of alternately formed zooming groove portions and flange back adjustment groove portions, and flange back adjustment is carried out by rotating the rotary barrel with the cam follower in engagement with one of the flange back adjustment groove portions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of producing a food product is disclosed. The food product is placed inside of an air-tight chamber, in which the food product is to be cooked, wherein steam is generated from a source of water and is introduced into the cooking chamber. The steam heats the inside of the cooking chamber and serves as a heat transfer media to heat the food product as well as a color and flavor transfer media to color and flavor the food product. That is, a flavoring and coloring additive, such as liquid smoke, may be added to the water utilized in generating the steam in order to flavor the food product being cooked. The steam then transfers the flavoring and coloring additive to the food product which condenses on the food product adding flavor and color to the food product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a cover (14) having a transparent area, the transparency of which can be controlled by applying a voltage to it. The transparent area has an outwardly arched pane (16) and a flat inner pane (20) located under the outer pane and provided with an electrochromic element (22).

Abstract: A liquid-crystal electro-optical device is offered which can operate at high speeds and easily oriented. The value of the surface tension of liquid crystal-orienting layers is 40 dynes/cm or more, and these layers are rubbed in antiparallel directions to each other. This reduces the pretilt angle of the molecules of a nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates. The anisotropy of the dielectric constant of the nematic liquid crystal is positive.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a diamond-like carbon (DLC) film added therein a Group IV element of the periodic table such as silicon, particularly in the vicinity of the boundary between the magnetic material and the formed DLC film. Since a DLC having low friction coefficient can be formed, the centerline average roughness can be reduced to 30 nm or even less. Accordingly, a magnetic recording medium improved in magnetic properties and in lubricity can be obtained.

Abstract: A channel forming region of a thin-film transistor is covered with an electrode and wiring line that extends from a source line. As a result, the channel forming region is prevented from being illuminated with light coming from above the thin-film transistor, whereby the characteristics of the thin-film transistor can be made stable.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an elongated member from a superconducting ceramic material comprising the steps of providing a hollow supporting body of metal or a metallic compound having a hollow inside section therein, introducing a superconducting ceramic material into the hollow inside section of the hollow supporting body, drying the above liquid, so that the superconducting ceramic material is coated on the inside of the supporting body; and firing the supporting body and the ceramic material in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: Ropes made of plastic filaments are used extensively for fishing equipment such as nets and trawl bags, and it has been found that a wax impregnation of the ropes is advantageous in several respects. However, the presence of free wax on the rope surface is undesirable, and according to the invention this is avoided by moving the rope through an impregnation unit (1) comprising a warm wax bath, in such a controlled manner that the rope is only partially saturated, whereafter the rope is air heated at a temperature higher than the melting point of the wax in order for the free surface wax to penetrate into the rope surface.

Abstract: A recording medium reproducing apparatus capable of accommodating a plurality of recorded media and exchanging a recorded medium even during the reproduction of another recorded medium, the apparatus being made easy to use. A stocker accommodates a plurality of recorded medium holders for holding a recording medium. A first transport unit transports the recorded medium holder between the inside of the stocker and the outside of an apparatus housing. A second transport unit transports the recorded medium holder between the inside of the stocker and a reproduction unit. The stocker is moved up and down in order to align the position of the recorded medium holder with the position of the first or second transport unit. When the recorded medium holder is transports from the outside of the housing to the inside of the stocker, a presence/absence of a recorded medium is detected by a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit.

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a series of sliding louvers for selectively closing or at least partially exposing a roof opening in a fixed roof surface, in which the louvers abut one another in the closed position and form a flat interconnected louver assembly that is guided along guides such that, when the louvers are displaced in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the louver assembly executes translational movement which causes the assembly to be separate on a louver by louver basis by pivoting each individual louver forward in an opening direction, and to be re-established when the roof is closed. Each louver (10a-10e) in the closed position is sealed on each side of the roof opening by a hollow chamber seal (30) that has a sealing surface (36) which is engaged by the louver side edges (37).

Abstract: A head (14) intended to be mounted on the end of a transfer line comprising a downstream outlet orifice (39) for liquid. The device comprises an insulating central nozzle (40) in which there is formed a through-opening (44, 45) for the passage of the liquid, an outer chassis (56, 58) surrounding the central nozzle (40) and in which the latter can slide, means (16) of securing the chassis and the transfer line (12) together, and means (84) of elastic return which, in service, press the upstream end (45) of the through-opening (44, 45) of the nozzle against the periphery (38) of the downstream orifice (39) of the transfer line (12). Application to the distribution of liquid nitrogen into cans of preserves.

Abstract: To provide a technology capable of promoting property of a thin film transistor formed on a glass substrate, a silicon oxide film 102 is formed on a glass substrate 101 and an amorphous silicon film 103 is formed thereon. A nickel acetate solution including nickel element that is a metal element promoting crystallization of silicon is coated and a water film 401 is formed. A state in which the nickel element is held in contact with the surface of the amorphous silicon film 103 is realized by performing spin drying. Uniform crystal growth is carried out as shown by arrow marks 104 by performing a heating treatment. An electrically inactive layer is formed by having nickel element having a high concentration which is present at front end portions of crystal growth react with an underlayer of the silicon oxide film 102. In this way the crystalline silicon film restraining the influence of nickel element can be provide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a surprise box for containing objects. According to the invention, the surprise box is essentially constituted by a hollow body made of deformable material, provided with an opening zone giving access to the inside of the hollow body by deforming the wall of said hollow body adjacent to said opening zone, effaceable obstacles also being provided inside the hollow body to complicate searching for and taking hold of objects disposed inside said surprise box.

Abstract: A unitized fuel supply assembly is disclosed including an in-line reciprocating cam driven pump (14) for supplying fuel to an accumulator (12) from which fuel is directed to a plurality of engine cylinders by means of a distributor (16) mounted on the unitized assembly. Dual pump control valves (20) provide fail safe electronic control over the effective pump displacement. One or more injection control valves mounted on the distributor are provided to control injection timing and quantity. The accumulator (12) contains a labyrinth of interconnected chambers (36) which are shaped and positioned to produce a minimum overall package size while providing for easy manufacture.

Abstract: A method for forming a silicon island used for forming a TFT or thin film diode comprises the step of pattering a silicon film with a photoresist mask. In order to prevent the contamination of the semiconductor film due to the photoresist material, a protective film such as silicon oxide is interposed between the semiconductor film and the photoresist film. Also, the protective film is preferably formed by thermal annealing or light annealing in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp with a distance of less than 3.0 mm between the electrodes, in which in the hermetically sealed portion no cracks occur, which can be produced without difficulty, and which enables advantageous operation is achieved with a halide lamp in which an arc tube made of quartz glass contains a cathode and an anode spaced from each other at a distance of less than or equal to 2.9 mm together with mercury and metal halides, and which is operated with a nominal wattage range of from 100 to 400 W using direct current, by causing the ratio D/H to be greater than or equal to 1.9 when D is the maximum inside diameter in millimeters in a direction which orthogonally intersects the axial direction of the electrodes in the discharge space and H is the length of the cathode projecting within the discharge space, also in millimeters.

Abstract: A method for improving the reliability and yield of a thin film transistor by controlling the crystallinity thereof. The method comprises the steps of forming a gate electrode on an island amorphous silicon film, injecting an impurity using the gate electrode as a mask, forming a coating film containing at least one of nickel, iron, cobalt, platinum and palladium so that it adheres to parts of the impurity regions, and annealing it at a temperature lower than the crystallization temperature of pure amorphous silicon to advance the crystallization starting therefrom and to crystallize the impurity regions and channel forming region.

Abstract: An engine control system for an automobile engine of, for example, the type which injects fuel directly into an combustion chamber (16) and executes a fuel-cut control under a specified engine operating condition establishes a stratified charge combustion mode and a homogeneous charge combustion mode selectively according to engine operating conditions following termination of the fuel-cut control and shuts off nearly completely an engine throttle valve (28) during execution of the fuel-cut control and opens the engine throttle valve (28) so as to variably control an amount of intake air passing through an intake passage (24) into the combustion chamber (16) before the stratified charge combustion mode is established following termination of the fuel-cut control.