Abstract: The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, a semiconductor device that includes: a substrate; an underlying insulation film that is formed over the substrate; and a plurality of thin-film transistors that is formed over the underlying insulation film, each of the plurality of thin-film transistors having a semiconductor film, wherein the underlying insulation film is formed in separate areas each of which includes, when viewed in plan, at least one of the plurality of semiconductor films.

Abstract: There is provided a method of driving an electrophoretic display device having a display unit including a plurality of pixels in which electrophoretic elements each including electrophoretic particles are disposed between a pixel electrode and a common electrode that face each other.

Abstract: A device includes: first and second substrates; an electrophoretic element between the substrates and including a dispersion medium containing electrophoretic particles; pixel electrodes on the first substrate; a common electrode opposite the pixel electrodes on the second substrate; a unit supplying an image signal having a first or second potential<the first potential to the pixel electrodes according to image data; and another unit supplying a common potential to the common electrode. The image signal is supplied in predetermined frame periods in an image signal supply period according to image data associated with the same frame image as the image data. The common potential is switched into a third potential?the first potential and>the second potential and a fourth potential<the third potential and?the second potential, and the switched potentials are supplied to the common electrode in the frame periods.

Abstract: Each of control powers of a first definition group that correspond to a pulse train used to form a recording mark, and a plurality of levels of a second definition group that includes each of the control powers of the first definition group in accordance with the conditions of a recording medium 3 are set. A plurality of control powers are selected from the first definition group included in the selected level of the second definition group. When the laser is driven with the corresponding drive values, a monitor 4 obtains an emission power detection value. The emission power detection value is stored for each level of the second definition group, and an occurrence is counted for each level of the second definition group in a period during which the emission power detection value is obtained.

Abstract: An inexpensive metallic material for interconnects of solid-oxide fuel cells, a fuel cell using the metallic material, and a method for producing the metallic material having excellent oxidation resistance and spalling resistance of an oxide layer, high electrical conductivity, and a small difference in thermal expansion from an electrolyte. Specifically, 0.20 percent by mass or less of C, 0.02 to 1.0 percent by mass of Si, 2.0 percent by mass or less of Mn, 10 to 40 percent by mass of Cr, 0.03 to 5.0 percent by mass of Mo, 0.1 to 3.0 percent by mass of Nb, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Zr, and Hf in a total of 1.0 percent by mass or less are added so as to satisfy 0.1?Mo/Nb?30, for decreasing the growth rate of the oxide layer and improving the spalling resistance.

Abstract: A process for producing a sheet for electrophoretic display including steps of: (a) continuously running a strip-shaped substrate sheet in which an electrically conductive layer is formed on a substrate film, and coating, on the substrate sheet, a coating solution containing a microcapsule for electrophoretic display, using a coating apparatus of a kiss reverse coating system having a coating roll in which a gravure pattern is discontinuously formed in an axial direction of an external circumferential surface; and (b) drying the coating solution to form a layer containing the microcapsule on the electrically conductive layer to obtain a sheet for electrophoretic display in which a microcapsule supporting part on which the microcapsule is supported, and an electrically conductive layer exposing part on which the electrically conductive layer is exposed are alternatively arranged in a width direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A method of driving an electrophoresis display device having a displaying portion which includes an lectrophoresis element containing electrophoresis particles and disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode opposing to one another and which consists of a plurality of pixels, the driving method including a step of performing an image writing step in which an image is written into the displaying portion by applying a first potential or a second potential to the first electrode separately provided for the pixel and applying a reference pulse in which the first potential and the second potential repeatedly alternate at a predetermined interval to the second electrode which is a common electrode shared by all the pixels, and a step of performing at least one contrast maintaining step including a short term interval step in which the second electrode and all the first electrodes fall in a high impedance state for five or less seconds and an auxiliary pulse inputting step in which at least one cycle o

Abstract: There is provided a method for driving an electrophoresis display device equipped with a plurality of pixel electrodes, each of the pixel electrode being provided for every pixel, a common electrode provided to oppose the plurality of pixel electrodes, and an electrophoresis element containing electrophoresis particles, the electrophoresis element being sandwiched by the plurality of pixel electrodes and the common electrode. The method for driving an electrophoresis display device includes driving the electrophoresis element and updating a display by a common voltage swing drive method in which a rectangular wave in which a first potential and a second potential are repeated is applied to the common electrode for not less than one cycle during a display update time in which the first potential or the second potential for moving the electrophoresis particles is applied to each of the pixel electrodes. A frequency of the rectangular wave is not less than 20 Hz.

Abstract: A sensor adjusting circuit for adjusting a digital sensor, whose circuit scale is small and which can maintain high accuracy in a wide adjustment range is provided. A sensor adjusting circuit for adjusting an analog input signal inputted from a sensor and outputting it as another analog output signal in accordance with a physical quantity to be sensed, comprises: a first analog-to-digital converter having an analog integrator (2) for integrating the analog input signal, a comparator (3) for comparing an output of the analog integrator with a predetermined value, and a D/A converter (7) for outputting an output of the comparator as the input signal; and a second digital-to-analog converter (5) for converting the output of the comparator and outputting it as the analog output signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the current invention are directed to a method of mounting a flexible printed circuit and a manufacturing method of an electric optical device. Each of the methods form semiconductor elements and first terminal portions for electrically connecting the semiconductor elements and the outside of the board. These terminal portions have are completely or partially covered with an organic film 37 and are pressed into second terminal portion on the flexible printed circuit from the direction above the organic film thereby creating an electrical connection. Optionally, an anisotropic conductive paste or anisotropic conductive film may be provided between the second terminal portion and the organic film.

Abstract: An electrophoretic particle including: a pigment particle having an average particle diameter of 1 ?m or smaller; and a polymer layer having an average thickness of 1 to 500 nm formed on a surface of the pigment particle, wherein 50% or higher of an entire surface of the pigment particle is coated with the polymer layer. The electrophoretic particle can be produced by radical polymerization using a polymerization initiator in a state where a pigment particle and monomer components are present in a solvent. The electrophoretic particle can be used in a microcapsule and a sheet for electrophoretic display, as well as an electrophoretic display device and an electronic equipment.

Abstract: The soft Cr-containing steel includes, on a % by mass basis, C: from about 0.001% to about 0.020%, Si: more than about 0.10% and less than about 0.50%, Mn: less than about 2.00%, P: less than about 0.060%, S: less than about 0.008%, Cr: from about 12.0% to about 16.0%, Ni: from about 0.05% to about 1.00%, N: less than about 0.020%, Nb: from about 10×(C+N) to about 1.00%, Mo: more than about 0.80% and less than about 3.00%, wherein the contents of alloying elements, represented by Si and Mo, respectively, on a % by mass, satisfy the formula Si?1.2?0.4Mo, so as to prevent precipitation of the Laves phase and to stably secure an effect of increasing high-temperature strength due to solid solution Mo.

Abstract: An endoscope comprises an inserting unit main body, and a head unit that is freely detachably attached to the distal end of the inserting unit main body and that includes an image pickup device which picks up an image of an object and a light emitting element which irradiates illumination light to the object. A holding member holds the head unit such that distal extension of the holding member angles the head unit in a radial direction orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the distal end of the inserting unit main body.

Abstract: An electrophoresis display device includes electrophoresis display elements, corresponding to pixels of a display unit, each having a structure where a dispersion medium containing electrophoresis particles is interposed between a common electrode and a pixel electrode, a driving unit that applies a voltage between the common electrode and the pixel electrodes and drives the electrophoresis display elements, and a control unit that controls the driving unit. An image rewrite period, during which a rewrite display operation is performed on the electrophoresis display elements, includes a reset period and an image signal introducing period. During the image signal introducing period, the electrophoresis display elements are driven with a first data input pulse and a second data input pulse.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microcapsule for an electrophoretic display device which can suppress reduction in later contrast even when the electrophoretic display device is allowed to stand under the high temperature and high humidity condition, favorably, under the high temperature and high humidity condition for a long time (e.g. under 60° C., 90% RH for 24 hours). As a means of achieving this object, a microcapsule according to the present invention for an electrophoretic display device comprises an electrophoretic fine particle and a solvent both of which are encapsulated in a shell, and is characterized in that an amount of an alkaline metal ion in the whole microcapsule is 150 ppm or smaller.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microcapsule for an electrophoretic display device which can suppress reduction in later contrast even when the electrophoretic display device is allowed to stand under the high temperature and high humidity condition, favorably, under the high temperature and high humidity condition for a long time (e.g. under 60° C., 90% RH for 24 hours). As a means of achieving this object, a microcapsule according to the present invention for an electrophoretic display device comprises an electrophoretic fine particle and a solvent both of which are encapsulated in a shell, and is characterized in that an amount of an alkaline metal ion in the whole microcapsule is 150 ppm or smaller.

Abstract: A ferritic Cr-contained steel having a reduced thermal expansion coefficient is provided. The ferritic Cr-contained steel contains C of 0.03% or less, Mn of 5.0% or less, Cr of 6 to 40%, N of 0.03% or less, Si of 5% or less, and W of 2.0% to 6.0% in percent by mass, and Fe and inevitable impurities as the remainder, wherein precipitated W is 0.1% or less in percent by mass, and an average thermal expansion coefficient between 20° C. and 800° C. is less than 12.6×10-6/° C.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microcapsule for an electrophoretic display device which can suppress reduction in later contrast even when the electrophoretic display device is allowed to stand under the high temperature and high humidity condition, favorably, under the high temperature and high humidity condition for a long time (e.g. under 60° C, 90% RH for 24 hours). As a means of achieving this object, a microcapsule according to the present invention for an electrophoretic display device comprises an electrophoretic fine particle and a solvent both of which are encapsulated in a shell, and is characterized in that an amount of an alkaline metal ion in the whole microcapsule is 150 ppm or smaller.

Abstract: A sensor adjusting circuit for adjusting a digital sensor, whose circuit scale is small and which can maintain high accuracy in a wide adjustment range is provided. A sensor adjusting circuit for adjusting an analog input signal inputted from a sensor and outputting it as another analog output signal in accordance with a physical quantity to be sensed, comprises: a first analog-to-digital converter having an analog integrator (2) for integrating the analog input signal, a comparator (3) for comparing an output of the analog integrator with a predetermined value, and a D/A converter (7) for outputting an output of the comparator as the input signal; and a second digital-to-analog converter (5) for converting the output of the comparator and outputting it as the analog output signal.

Abstract: A power control device for controlling a power of a light source of an optical beam directed to an optical medium. The power control device includes a reflected light detector for detecting reflected light from the optical medium when irradiated by an optical beam which is following a track; an arithmetic unit for calculating from the reflected light a transmissivity of light transmitted from a disk surface to a recording layer or an amount of directed light on the recording layer of the medium; and power control means for controlling the power of the light source for emission based on a calculation result produced by the arithmetic unit.