Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device has a controller and flash memory. The flash memory stores user data and an error correcting code for correcting an error in the user data. When there is a read command from the outside, the user data and error correcting code are read from the flash memory. If there is any correctable error in the read user data, error correction is performed and then the data is outputted. If the there is uncorrectable error, the data is outputted directly without any correction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate for epitaxy, especially for preparation of nitride semiconductor layers. Invention covers a bulk nitride mono-crystal characterized in that it is a mono-crystal of gallium nitride and its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to c-axis of hexagonal lattice of gallium nitride has a surface area greater than 100 mm2, it is more than 1,0 ?m thick and its C-plane surface dislocation density is less than 106/cm2, while its volume is sufficient to produce at least one further-processable non-polar A-plane or M-plane plate having a surface area at least 100 mm2. More generally, the present invention covers a bulk nitride mono-crystal which is characterized in that it is a mono-crystal of gallium-containing nitride and its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to c-axis of hexagonal lattice of gallium-containing nitride has a surface area greater than 100 mm2, it is more 1,0-?m thick and its surface dislocation density is less than 106/cm2.

Abstract: In order to provide a sound-absorbing body which has both a thin thickness and improved sound-absorption characteristics with regard to a low tone range sounds, the sound-absorbing body (1) includes: an organic hybrid sheet (2) constituted from an organic low-molecular material which is spread in a matrix polymer; and a gastight air cell (3) which is closely provided at a backside (2a) of the organic hybrid sheet, wherein the organic hybrid sheet indicates both a sound-absorption peak of a random incidence sound-absorption coefficient at a frequency band of 400 Hz or lower and another sound-absorption peak when the organic hybrid sheet is vibrated by applying air vibration caused by sound, because of adhering the organic hybrid sheet to the gastight air cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active phosphorus heterocyclic dimer including reacting, in the presence of a base, primary phosphine represented by formula (1) R—PH2 ??(1) is reacted with a compound represented by formula (2) Y—CnH2n—Y ??(2) in the presence of a base; the product is reacted with boron trihydride, oxygen, or sulfur to obtain a phosphorus heterocyclic compound represented by formula (3): the resultant compound is dimerized to produce a phosphorus heterocyclic dimer represented by formula (4): and then oxygen, sulfur, or borane is removed from the resultant phosphorus heterocyclic dimer to obtain an optically active phosphorus heterocyclic dimer represented by formula (5):

Abstract: This invention provides a solar simulator measurement method capable of high-accuracy measurements with fast-response photovoltaic devices as well as with slow-response photovoltaic devices, and a solar simulator for implementing the method. A flash having a pulse waveform with a flattened peak is generated from a xenon lamp. The flash is sensed by an irradiance detector, its irradiance measured, and the irradiance of the light source is adjusted to fall within a prescribed narrow range based on the detected irradiance value. Then, the flash with irradiance within the prescribed range irradiates photovoltaic devices under measurement, and the current and the voltage output by the photovoltaic devices are measured at multiple points while a load of the photovoltaic devices is controlled. This process is repeated with multiple flashes to obtain an I-V curve for the photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: The template type substrate is used for opto-electric or electrical devices and comprises A) a layer of bulk mono-crystal nitride containing at least one element of alkali metals (Group I, IUPAC 1989) and B) a layer of nitride grown by means of vapor phase epitaxy growth wherein the layer A) and the layer B) are combined at non N-polar face of the layer A) and N-polar face of the layer B). Therefore, the template type substrate has a good dislocation density and a good value of FWHM of the X-ray rocking curve from (0002) plane less than 80, so that the resulting template type substrate is very useful for the epitaxy substrate from gaseous phase such as MOCVD, MBE and HVPE, resulting in possibility of making good opto-electric devices such as Laser Diode and large-output LED and good electric devices such as MOSFET.

Abstract: An indwelling catheter set is provided with a catheter, a cover connected with a proximal end of the catheter and a connector having a hemostatic valve housed therein. The connector is fixed to the cover. A hollow needle for transfusion to a patient is slidably fitted to an inside of the catheter.

Abstract: The nitride semiconductor laser device has a counter electrode structure where contact resistance is reduced and manufacturing methods thereof are provided. The nitride semiconductor laser device comprises a nitride semiconductor substrate having a first main surface and a second main surface. A nitride semiconductor layer is stacked on the first main surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate. A ridge-shaped stripe is formed in the nitride semiconductor layer, and a resonance surface forms an optical waveguide in the direction perpendicular to the length of the ridge-shaped stripe. A first region having a crystal growth facet in the (0001) plane and a second region on the first main surface or the second main surface are provided. Further, a recess is formed in the second region of the first main surface and/or the second main surface. A ridge-shape stripe is formed over the first main surface of the nitride semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprises a substrate, magnetoresistive element of a spin-valve type, a bias magnetic layer (or a permanent magnet film), and a protective film, wherein the bias magnetic layer is connected with both ends of the magnetoresistive element and the upper surface thereof is entirely covered with the lower surface of the magnetoresistive element at both ends. Herein, distances between the side surfaces of the both ends of the magnetoresistive element and the side surfaces of the bias magnetic layer viewed from the protective film do not exceed 3 ?m. In addition, a part of the bias magnetic layer can be covered with both ends of the magnetoresistive element, and an intermediate layer is arranged in relation to the magnetoresistive element, bias magnetic layer, and protective film so as to entirely cover the upper surface of the bias magnetic layer.

Abstract: One or more plywood base plate members and at least one decorative plate are stuck together on top of each other, to thereby make a decorative plywood board of a given size. A joined decorative plywood board unit of a desired size is made of a plurality of the decorative plywood boards joined by a scarf joint. Then, the joined decorative plywood board unit and one or more base plates, each having a size of the size of the decorative plywood board unit, are attached together on top of each other, to thereby provide a board pile to be used as a component part for a musical instrument.

Abstract: The substrate is used for opto-electric or electrical devices and comprises a layer of nitride grown by means of vapor phase epitaxy growth wherein both main surfaces of the nitride substrate are substantially consisting of non N-polar face and N-polar face respectively and the dislocation density of the substrate is 5×105/cm2 or less. Therefore, the template type substrate has a good dislocation density and a good value of FWHM of the X-ray rocking curve from (0002) plane less than 80, so that the resulting template type substrate is very useful for the epitaxy substrate from gaseous phase such as MOCVD, MBE and HVPE, resulting in possibility of making good opto-electric devices such as Laser Diode and large-output LED and good electric devices such as MOSFET.

Abstract: An optical fiber loop has a gain medium having a gain at an oscillation wavelength and optical circulators 13 and 14. Collimate lenses 22 and 24 enlarge light bean taken from the optical circulators 13 and 14. A polygon mirror 25 is provided on the light axis, and is rotated. A diffraction grating 27 is provided at the receiving position of the light reflected by the polygon mirror 25, and is of a Littrow configuration which reflects the light in the same direction as the incident light. A selected wavelength changes according to an incident angle to the diffraction grating 27, resulting in increase of selectivity owing to twice incident, thereby permitting to change an oscillation wavelength with narrow band even when changing the selected wavelength by rotating the polygon mirror 25 at high speed.

Abstract: An ionizer of a corona discharge type is configured to increase the yield of ions while minimizing contamination of a discharge electrode by foreign matters. In the ionizer, a gas path unit (11) supplied with clean gas has internal clean gas paths (50, 48) in an electrode assembly (40), and clean gas is released through each internal clean gas path (50, 48) to make a clean gas flow enclosing a front end portion of a discharge electrode (12). The electrode assembly (40) has a guard ring (46) encircling the discharge electrode (12), and the guard ring (46) has external air inlet openings (46b) permitting free passage of atmospheric air. The clean gas flow enclosing the tip of the discharge electrode (12) inhales atmospheric air through external air inlet openings (46b) of the guard ring (46) and changes to ionized air.

Abstract: The present invention implements a method and an apparatus for retrieving a sound data desired by the user on the basis of its subjective impression over the sound data. The subjective impression on the desired sound data is entered by the user and converted to a numerical value. A target sound impression value which is a numerical form of the impression on the sound data is calculated from the numerical value. The target sound impression value is then used as a retrieving key for accessing a sound database where the audio signal and the sound features of a plurality of the sound data are stored. This allows the desired sound data to be retrieved on the basis of the subjective impression of the user on the sound data.

Abstract: In a case where a thumbnail image is displayed at the time of insertion of an image file storage medium including an automatic reproduction file, the thumbnail image is displayed only for the image file which contains description of automatic reproduction in an automatic reproduction file. Also, a thumbnail image of an image file which contains description of non-automatic reproduction in the automatic reproduction file is replaced with a dummy image or displayed as a thumbnail image not apparently capable of being recognized in response to a user request.

Abstract: A printer includes a conveyance mechanism capable of conveying a long recording medium in a first direction from a supply unit storing therein the recording medium, toward an image recording unit capable of recording a color image on the recording medium, and in a second direction reverse to the first direction, with opposing the recording medium to the image recording unit. The conveyance mechanism is controlled to convey the recording medium in the first direction until a leading edge of the recording medium reaches a position distant in the first direction from the image recording unit, and then convey the recording medium in the second direction. The image recording unit is controlled to record frames of color images on the recording medium being conveyed in the second direction by the conveyance mechanism.

Abstract: A bright point detecting method is provided comprising selecting a cluster of pixels in the image to be processed which are higher in the luminance than a predetermined threshold; counting the number of the pixels of each group along two or more directions and selecting the group of pixels of which the number is not higher than a bright point permissive size of the pixels, calculating the evaluation of each pixel in the cluster with the use of an evaluation function based on the count and identifying the center pixel of the group from the evaluation, and selectively determining as the bright point pixel, the center pixel at the highest evaluation among the center pixels as located in a given area based on the bright point permissive size of the pixels. As a result, a more natural form of the cross filter effect can be applied to any digital image.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory card 1 includes a user data area 21 and a management information area 22, in a data storing unit 2. According to a writing test command from a memory access device 6, a memory controller 3 writes data into a user data storing area and measures the writing rate, and transmits the measurement result to the memory access device 6 via a host interface unit 4. Thereby, the memory access device 6 can recognize the writing rate.

Abstract: An attachment member for a strap for a guitar includes a shaft-shaped member fixable inside a hole in a guitar body via an adhesive agent; and a holding member continuous with this shaft-shaped member which is positioned outside the hole. The shaft-shaped member includes a first shaft-shaped portion on a distal end side of the member, a second shaft-shaped portion on a base portion side of the member, and a dividing groove formed in the first and second shaft-shaped portions. The first shaft-shaped portion contacts the hole inner circumferential surface. The second shaft-shaped portion forms a space between itself and the hole inner circumferential surface for containing the adhesive agent. When inserted, the first shaft-shaped portion is deformed in conformity with the hole internal surface configuration while narrowing the groove width of the diving groove. A shaft-shaped member can be firmly and easily fixed inside a hole.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus of a different angle incident type is provided having a single optical sensor unit for determining the timing for start point synchronization along the main scanning direction, an output level detecting device determining the output level of each beam of light which can be detected by the optical sensor unit, a first modulating device modulating the output level of each beam of light with a pixel data in the light path for exposure, and a second modulating device modulating the output level of each beam of light to a higher level outside of the light path for exposure than the level determined by said output level detecting device.