Abstract: Silicon nitride powder is produced in two steps, by supplying metallic silicon powder to a fluidized bed composed of silicon nitride and nitrogen or ammonia gas where primary nitriding reaction is effected until the silicon powder is nitrided to an amount of at least 50% and transferring the nitrided product from the fluidized bed into a moving bed where secondary nitriding reaction is effected for nitriding the unreacted silicon with nitrogen or ammonia gas. This method is adapted for manufacture on a commercial scale because the silicon nitride powder thus obtained is consistent and has a very high degree of nitriding and a minimal variation in quality.

Abstract: Embroidery data for an embroidery machine is prepared by storing original outline data defining an embroidery area to be filled with stitches as a set of a plurality of closed outlines. The original outline data is modified into a single closed outline. Needle position relating data is then produced from the modified outline data to enable the embroidery area to be filled with stitches.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing stitch position-related data utilized by an embroidery sewing machine for embroidering a predetermined area by forming stitches at respective stitch positions and filling the area with the formed stitches, including a dividing device for dividing the area into a plurality of sub-areas based on outline data representative of an outline of the area, the outline data including sets of position data each of which is representative of a corresponding one of a plurality of specific positions specified on the outline, and a data producing device for producing sets of sub-area data each of which is representative of an outline of a corresponding one of the sub-areas and determining, based on the sets of sub-area data, an order of embroidering of the sub-areas such that, when the embroidery sewing machine forms stitches with a continuous thread and fills each of the sub-areas by the formed stitches, by utilizing the sets of sub-area data and the order of embroidery of the sub-areas, the cont

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data utilized by a sewing machine for embroidering areas by filling the areas with stitches, including a storing device storing, for each of the area, sets of position data representative of defining points which cooperate with each other to define the each area, a selecting device selecting, based on the sets of position data for the areas, one of pairs of the defining points belonging to successive two of the areas one of which precedes the other area in an order of embroidering of the areas which pairs result from combining a particular defining point belonging to a first group consisting of the defining points defining one of the successive two areas, with each of defining points which belong to a second group consisting of the defining points defining the other of the successive two areas and which satisfy a predetermined requirement, such that a distance between the two defining points of the selected pair is the smallest of the pairs, and a determining device dete

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing stitch position-related data utilized by an embroidery sewing machine for embroidering a predetermined area, including a dividing device specifying a plurality of base positions on an outline of the area which define a polygon approximating the area, and dividing the area and polygon into sub-areas and sub-polygons, respectively, each of the sub-areas being approximated by a corresponding one of the sub-polygons, a data producing device producing the stitch position-related data based on the sub-areas, a checking device judging, if the dividing device produces a triangle-like sub-area approximated by a triangle, whether or not the triangle-like sub-area is an appropriate sub-area to be utilized by the data producing device for producing the stitch position-related data, and a modifying device modifying, if a negative, judgment is made by the checking device, the triangle-like sub-area to a quadrangle-like sub-area approximated by a quadrangle, by determining a special position on th

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an exposure unit for exposing an original; a first image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium by removing an image of first color component(s) from an original image exposed by the exposure unit; a second image forming unit for forming an image on the recording medium by extracting an image of second color component(s) from the original image exposed by the exposure unit; and an image processing unit for making the color distribution range of the first color components to be removed by the first image forming unit consistent with the color distribution range of the second color components to be extracted by the second image forming unit.

Abstract: An embroidery pattern data processor for sewing an embroidery based on section data representing the locations of the vertexes of polygonal sections dividing a closed area surrounded by a given outline for embroidering the closed area comprises a memory for storing the section data, a designation means for designating starting and ending points read-out means for reading out the section data, a processor for determining the type of sections, for computing running stitch data, and for computing needle location data for embroidering the sections. The running stitch computing means automatically computes a running stitch route within the sections so that the embroidering operation is carried out without producing cross threads which have previously been manually removed.

Abstract: A thin-film memory element made by the technique of forming thin film and functioning as a thin-film transistor. The memory element has two gate-insulating films, and two gate electrodes formed on the gate-insulating films, respectively. The first gate-insulating film can accumulate electrical charge, whereas the second gate-insulating film cannot. The gate electrode on the first gate-insulating film is used as write/erase electrode, and the gate electrode on the second gate-insulating film is used as read electrode. Since the memory element has two electrodes, one for writing or erasing data, and the other for reading data, its threshold voltage remains unchanged. Hence, data can be read from the thin-film memory element for a virtually indefinitely long period of time.

Abstract: A film image reading apparatus has a conveying section for sequentially conveying a plurality of film originals to a reading position, a reading section for reading an image of a film original conveyed to the reading position by the conveying section, a detecting section for detecting a direction of the image of the film original conveyed to the reading position, and a controlling section for controlling outputting of an image signal from the reading section in accordance with the direction of the image detected by the detecting section.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory element composed of a first thin film transistor having a memory function, and a select element composed of a second thin film transistor for selecting the memory element. A gate insulation film of the first thin film transistor has a charge storage function. A gate insulation film of the second thin film transistor does not have any charge storage function. If a plurality of the memory devices are arranged in matrix form, this configuration can be used as E.sup.2 PROM. By forming the first and second thin film transistors simultaneously, it is possible to form the first and second thin film transistors easily in the simple manufacturing steps.

Abstract: A magnetic device for high-voltage pulse generating apparatuses including (a) at least one cylindrical conductor for defining a cavity, the cylindrical conductor being provided with input and output terminals and an inlet and an outlet for a coolant; (b) at least one sealing member fixed to the cylindrical conductor; (c) a plurality of wound magnetic cores each composed of a magnetic ribbon laminated with an insulating layer, the wound magnetic cores being fixed to the cylindrical conductor with such an interval as to provide a certain space between the adjacent wound magnetic cores; and (d) an outer ring member disposed between each of the magnetic cores and the cylindrical conductor and having at least one path for permitting the coolant to flow therethrough, whereby the coolant flows in a radial or circumferential direction of each wound magnetic core in each space between the adjacent wound magnetic cores.

Abstract: An apparatus combining a liquid-crystal television receiver and a portable cassette tape recorder wherein a reflection mirror is pivotally arranged on an apparatus main body which has a cassette loading section and incorporating a cassette tape driving mechanism, and a liquid-crystal display device for displaying a television image is pivotally arranged on the reflection mirror. The television image displayed on the liquid-crystal display device is reflected by the reflection mirror and is watched.

Abstract: Sludge having a water content of less than 60% by weight is obtained by disintegrating primary dewatered sludge in a disintegrator to form sludge pieces having a layer of a dry dewatering additive while preventing the sludge from becoming like a slurry and then compressing the sludge pieces. The sludge thus obtained is combustible without requiring any further fuel.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor for use in an automotive air conditioning refrigerating system is provided with an electromagnetic clutch and an AC electric generator assembled on the compressor. The electromagnetic clutch comprises a pulley rotatably mounted on the compressor housing to be driven by the engine of the car, a magnetic attracting surface, and a magnetic armature connected to a drive shaft of the compressor to be magnetically attracted to the magnetic attracting surface to selectively drive the compressor by the engine. The AC electric generator comprises a stator statically mounted on the compressor housing and a rotor mounted on the pulley. One of the stator and the rotor includes concentric magnetic pole pieces of permanent magnets or of electromagnets, and the other of the stator and rotor includes a coil member to which AC current is induced upon the rotation of the rotor together with the pulley.