Abstract: A method for inspecting a wafer including a multiplicity of dies, the method including dividing an image of at least a portion of the wafer into a plurality of sub-images each representing a sub-portion of the wafer and selecting at least one defect candidate within each sub-image by comparing each sub-image to a corresponding sub-image of a reference including a representation, which is assumed to be faultless, of the portion of the wafer.

Abstract: Linked documents are ranked by observing link selections for referred documents from referring documents and counting such selections. The counts for each of the link selections are stored at various computer systems of a distributed network, a centralized collection of computers connected through a local network, or a hybrid system (collectively, the “system”) consisting of combinations of distributed and centralized systems, and processed (e.g., using a discrete probability distribution defined by the counts of the link selections) to obtain page ranks for the referred documents. The link selections may be observed by a browser extension running on individual ones of the computer systems of the distributed network and the counts of the link selections may be stored at locations within the system determined by a distributed hash table. Search request results may be displayed in a ranked order as determined by the page ranks.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus can improve the image quality of images. The image processing apparatus includes a parameter extracting unit that extracts a parameter for expressing the degree of sharpness of each image when a plurality of images are obtained with different degrees of sharpness by decomposing an original image, using input image data, a parameter adjusting unit that adjusts the parameters of the images extracted by the parameter extracting unit so as to make the original image sharp and a generating unit that generates the original image on the basis of the parameters of the images adjusted by the parameter adjusting unit.

Abstract: The invention provides plants with delayed flowering and methods of making such plants. Also provided are constructs comprising nucleic acids for making these plants. The invention is significant in that plants with delayed flowering may exhibit increased nutritional value and cold tolerance. Delayed flowering will also find use in plant breeding methods.

Abstract: A configurable firewall for computing systems is disclosed. The configurable firewall provides a firewall control block that can be used as a mechanism to implement and control access privileges between various components of the computing environment. As such, the firewall control block can be used to determine whether one component (e.g., applet) can access another component in the computing environment. This allows a flexible environment where firewall boundaries can be configured in such a way that each applet can allow access to a desired set of other applets. In addition, the control block can be implemented using a variety of techniques that may be suitable for different system requirements (e.g., processing speed, memory). As such, the configurable firewall is useful for implementing security for various computing systems, especially those that operate with relatively limited processing power and/or provide highly specialized functionality (e.g., smart cards).

Abstract: A column analog-to-digital converter having a voltage comparator and a counter is arranged for each a vertical signal line. The voltage comparator compares a pixel signal inputted via the vertical signal line at each row control signal line with a reference voltage, thereby generating a pulse signal having a length in time axis corresponding to the magnitude of a reset component and a signal component. The counter counts a clock to measure the width of the pulse signal until the end of the comparison operation of the comparator, and stores a count at the end of the comparison. A communication and timing controller controls the voltage comparator and the counter so that, in a first process, the voltage comparator performs a comparison operation on a reset component with the counter performing a down-counting operation, and so that, in a second process, the voltage controller performs the comparison operation on a signal component with the counter performing an up-counting operation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic thin film type magnetic recording medium is provided. The method comprises the steps of arranging an initial substance of said recording medium in opposition to a plasma discharge electrode, said initial substance comprising a non-magnetic support base, a metallic layer capable of functioning as a metallic electrode formed on said non-magnetic support base and a metallic magnetic layer formed on said metallic layer, and forming a protection film on a surface of said initial substance of said recording medium by way of generating plasma discharge while feeding raw material gas between said metallic layer/said metallic magnetic layer and said plasma discharge electrode.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide distributed storage systems that are scalable, secure, available, and manageable. These storage systems may utilize a single storage switch and allow resource sharing while securely separating customer data. A snapshot capability may be provided to capture a point-in-time image of the stored data and to track changes made to the stored data relative to a point-in-time image.

Abstract: Disclosed are a person authentication system, a person authentication method, and an information processing apparatus which allow person authentication to be performed in an easy fashion in various devices by comparing a template serving as person identification data with sampling information input by a user. A service provider (SP) or user device (UD) executes person authentication by acquiring a template from a person identification certificate (IDC) generated by a third-party agency serving as a person identification certificate authority (IDA). The IDA acquires a template serving as identification data after verifying a person requesting an IDC to be issued, and generates the IDC storing template information. The IDA distributes the IDC having a digital signature of the IDA added thereto to the SP and the UD.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state image pickup device including a Si substrate, a conductive pattern such as transfer-accumulation electrodes and a buffer wiring formed above the Si substrate, an insulating film provided above the Si substrate in the state of covering the conductive pattern, and a shunt wiring composed of a metallic pattern formed above the insulating film in the state of being connected to the buffer wiring via a contact window formed in the insulating film. The portion of the shunt wiring in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the contact window contains at least one of silicon metal oxide or silicon metal nitride.

Abstract: Each of an electrooptical device and a driving substrate for the electrooptical device includes a first substrate having a display section provided with pixel electrodes and a peripheral-driving-circuit section provided on the periphery of the display section, a second substrate, and an optical material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A gate section including a gate electrode and a gate-insulating film is formed on one surface of the first substrate, a compound layer having high lattice matching with single-crystal silicon is formed on the surface of the first substrate, and a single-crystal silicon layer is formed on the first substrate including the compound layer and the gate section. The single-crystal silicon layer constitutes a channel region, a source region, and a drain region.

Abstract: To provide a battery capable of obtaining an excellent electrolyte and improved characteristics. The battery has a battery device where a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated with a separator in-between inside a package member. The electrolyte containing a polymer compound synthesized by polymerizing a monomer is impregnated in the separator. The synthesis of the polymer compound is inhibited by existence of Cu, thereby a negative electrode collector layer consists of foil including a metal (e.g., Ni, Cr, Au), which is not copper and does not form an alloy with lithium, or Cu foil covering the above metal. Therefore, even if the polymer compound is synthesized after fabricating the battery, polymerization can smoothly progress and content of a remained monomer can be reduced. This can prevent deterioration of battery characteristics because decomposition or reaction of the monomer is controlled even if charge and discharge are repeatedly conducted.

Abstract: In a helical scan type magnetic tape recording apparatus, one thin film multi-recording head is mounted on a rotary drum, wherein the multi-recording head includes N recording heads for recording N recording tracks at a predetermined track angle on a magnetic tape by one rotation of the rotary drum to perform recording for forming continuous recording tracks having the same track pitches, by determining rotary drum rotation and a tape speed in accordance with equation V1=Tp·N·(RPS)/sin ?, such that (N?1) recording tracks having the same track pitches narrower than the head width and one recording track having a wider track width than that are formed by a first rotation of the drum, then by a second rotation, a preceding recording head overwrites the recording track having the wider track width to form a recording track having a track width equal to the track width of the recording track.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus and method for attaching a disc protective sheet to at least one half of a magnetic disc cartridge body include a supporting mechanism that supports each half body section of the cartridge body. The apparatus and method also include a supply mechanism that provides disc protective sheets to the one half body section. Each protective sheet is punched from a web of material and includes a cutout that corresponds to an opening provided in the one half body section to expose part of a magnetic disc held within the body when assembled. Each protective sheet also includes a thermal fusible layer on an attachment surface opposite a surface that will face a disc when the cartridge body is assembled. Each protective sheet to be assembled is arranged so that the cutout and the opening in the one half body section corresponds to one another. A fusing mechanism has a shape that is slightly larger than that of the protective sheets and is positioned directly over the supporting mechanism.