Abstract: A print control method for a tandem printing system having a host unit which supplies print data to a plurality of printers which are connected by a tandem-connection, includes the step of controlling synchronous operations of the plurality of printers by a single tandem control unit which is operable independently of the host unit and is provided independently of the plurality of printers.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having: an underlie having a conductive region in the surface layer of the underlie; an insulating etch stopper film covering the surface of the underlie; an interlayer insulating film formed on the insulating etch stopper film; a wiring trench formed in the interlayer insulating film, the wiring trench having a first depth from the surface of the interlayer insulating film; a contact hole extending from the bottom surface of the wiring trench to the surface of the conductive region; and a dual damascene wiring layer embedded in the wiring trench and the contact hole, wherein the interlayer insulating film includes a first kind of an insulating layer surrounding the side wall and bottom surface of the wiring trench and a second kind of an insulating layer having etching characteristics different from the first kind of the insulating layer.

Abstract: In a consumer transaction facility connected via a communication line 14 to a host computer, a display and input control unit performs on a display device a screen display in which a destination electronic mail address for transaction records is able to be inputted. When the destination electronic mail address for transaction records is inputted through an input unit, the display and input control unit performs a screen display in which it is selectable as to whether the transaction records are to be transmitted, and in addition performs a screen display in which it is selectable as to whether the transaction records are to be issued in the form of a sheet receipt.

Abstract: A data reproduction device includes an A/D converter quantizing a reproduction signal read from data recorded on a recording medium to produce quantized data based on a sampling clock; a reproduction signal determination unit determining rising and falling parts of the reproduction signal based on the quantized data, and outputting a gate signal corresponding to a result of determining the rising and falling parts; a leading-edge clock generation unit generating a leading-edge clock signal synchronous to a leading edge indicating a rising part of the reproduction signal; a trailingedge clock generation unit generating a trailingedge clock signal synchronous to a trailing edge indicating a falling part of the reproduction signal; a signal switch unit generating the sampling clock by selecting one of the leading-edge clock signal and the trailing-edge clock signal based on a value of the gate signal; and a signal supply unit supplying the sampling clock to the A/D converter, wherein the data reproduction device

Abstract: A toner mark transfer unit transfers a halftone pattern such as a transverse line pattern or a slanted line pattern on a belt by using a plurality of electrostatic recording units. A toner density measurement unit figures out density control parameters such as emission time and emission current on the basis of the ratio of a reflected light (inter-line space width) from the toner free portion to a light (line width) attenuated due to a diffuse light from the toner bearing portion in a read signal of a halftone pattern from a sensor unit.

Abstract: A method of constructing a system by collecting information and know-how is presented. The method includes the steps of storing information including development situations, know-how, and knowledge in a solution bank by a unit of a solution pattern, and obtaining contents corresponding to a desired system so as to construct the desired system by accessing the solution bank from a computer in which the desired system is to be constructed.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device having an STI structure, a space is formed by causing a recession in an oxide film on a surface of a substrate with regard to a sidewall surface of a device isolation trench at an edge of the device isolation trench, and a Si film is formed so as to fill the trench. Further, the oxide film is removed from the surface of the substrate while leaving the Si film, and the trench is filled with an oxide film. Further, the Si film is oxidized to form an oxide film forming a part of the oxide film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a payback system and a payback method for calculating a payback value to a customer receiving a service by using a product provided (for free or payment) from a product manufacturer or a middleman, or to the middleman. The payback value is calculated based on the use results of the service (including a service on a network) by a product user.

Abstract: An economical display data conversion apparatus for reducing the cost of an LED printer includes a switch matrix circuit and a shift register, wherein the switch matrix circuit has the same number of output terminals as the number of LED cells of an LED array and a smaller number of input terminals than the number of output terminals, multiplies an input signal and outputs the multiplied signal when the LED array having high resolution is caused to emit light at the same resolution as resolution of printing data having a plurality of different kinds of low degrees of resolution, and the shift register includes the same number of registers as the number of input terminals of the switch matrix circuit cascaded with one another, and can cut a predetermined number of registers on the rear stage side by a select switch and a short-circuit.

Abstract: A photodetector includes a substrate and an optical absorption layer provided on the substrate, wherein the optical absorption layer is formed of a mixed crystal of Si, Ge and C.

Abstract: A multi quantum well layer has a lamination of first and second quantum well layers each sandwiched between barrier layers and defining a quantum well. The band gap of the second quantum well layer is larger than the band gap of the first quantum well layer. Current is flowed through the multi quantum well layer from a pair of electrodes. A first optical system input inputting a signal light wave to the multi quantum well layer via an input plane of the multi quantum well layer. A second optical system propagates an output light wave output from an output plane of the multi quantum well layer. A wavelength converting device is provided which can suppress the conversion efficiency from being lowered at a large detuning angular and obtain a relatively high conversion efficiency even at a negative detuning angular frequency.

Abstract: Each application is provided with amounts and conditions for selection of applications, which are previously stored in an application selection table (22) of an IC card (100). Thereby, the amounts within predetermined ranges are corresponded to specific applications. The above IC card (100) performs automatic selection of applications corresponding to the amounts by an application selection section (23) based on amount information received from an external device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is a hetero-junction bipolar transistor structured by having a gallium arsenide film among laminated films, which has an indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) film which is connected to the gallium arsenide film and functions as an emitter, wherein the indium gallium phosphide film includes antimony (Sb). By including antimony, a carrier density can be deterred from decreasing near an interface between the gallium arsenide film and the indium gallium phosphide film and an emitter resistance can be reduced to a minimum.

Abstract: A moving body recognition apparatus which recognizes a shape and movement of an object moving in relation to an image input unit by extracting feature points, e.g. a peak of the object and a boundary of color, each in said images captured at a plurality of instants in time for observation by the image input unit. The moving body recognition apparatus comprises an image input unit for capturing images of an object as a moving body having a rotation, a feature point extraction unit for extracting feature points from the images inputted by the image input unit, a feature point storage unit for storing known position data of the extracted feature points, and a shape/movement recognition unit for calculating the actual positions and movements of the feature points of the object in the images by using the known position data of the extracted feature points outputted from the feature point storage unit.

Abstract: A moving body recognition apparatus which recognizes a shape and movement of an object moving in relation to an image input unit by extracting feature points, e.g. a peak of the object and a boundary of color, each in said images captured at a plurality of instants in time for observation by the image input unit. The moving body recognition apparatus comprises an image input unit for capturing images of an object as a moving body having a rotation, a feature point extraction unit for extracting feature points from the images inputted by the image input unit, a feature point storage unit for storing known position data of the extracted feature points, and a shape/movement recognition unit for calculating the actual positions and movements of the feature points of the object in the images by using the known position data of the extracted feature points outputted from the feature point storage unit.

Abstract: A networking apparatus has its switching unit set a path for a data transfer from a processing apparatus on the data origination side to a processing apparatus on the data termination side. In case of a stop in the processing apparatus on the data origination side during the data transfer, the networking apparatus has its offline status detecting unit detect the stop by the presence or absence of an online status indication signal from the processing apparatus on the data origination side and generate an offline status indication signal. The networking apparatus has its controlling unit receive the offline status indication signal, and generate a simulated end-of-data signal, indicating a consummation of a data transfer, for transmission to a switching unit.