Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus wherein an electrode embedded in a mounting table is supplied with high frequency power for biasing. A surface, which is exposed to plasma and is of an aluminum cover functioning as an opposite electrode to the electrode of the mounting table, is coated with a protection film, preferably a Y2O3 film. A second portion forming an upper side portion of the processing chamber and a first portion forming a lower side portion of the processing container are provided with an insulating upper liner and an insulating lower liner thicker than the upper liner, respectively. Thus, undesirable short-circuits and abnormal electrical discharge are prevented and stable high-frequency current path is formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon oxide film on silicon exposed on a surface of a workpiece includes mounting the workpiece on a mounting table in a processing chamber; generating plasma of a process gas containing oxygen by supplying the process gas into the processing chamber; applying a bias to the workpiece by supplying high-frequency power to the mounting table; and forming the silicon oxide film by applying the plasma to the biased workpiece and oxidizing the silicon. A ratio of oxygen in the process gas is set to be in the range of 0.1% to 10%. A pressure in the processing chamber is set to be in the range of 1.3 Pa to 266.6 Pa upon forming the silicon oxide film. An output of the high-frequency power is set to be in the range of 0.14 W/cm2 to 2.13 W/cm2 per unit area of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding members formed of thermoplastic resin material, with high welding strength and small strength variations. A laser welding apparatus 1 brings a first member 2 formed of a transmissive thermoplastic resin that transmits a laser beam into contact with a second member 3 formed of an absorptive thermoplastic resin that absorbs the laser beam, and joins the thermoplastic resin members by melting their contact surfaces 4 with the laser beam. The laser welding apparatus 1 further comprises a laser beam generator 10 for irradiating the contact surfaces with the laser beam shone from the side of the first member 3 so as to melt at least one of the contact surfaces of the first member and the second member.

Abstract: When the coating object area is positioned on the suction table, the film is stopped and is mounted on the suction table, and is further provided with tension in the longitudinal direction to eliminate slacks or the like, but, curl is caused in the both side end regions in the coating object area. Therefore, the coating object area is mounted on the suction table, and at the same time, the curl correction bars disposed on the both sides of the suction table are moved to the curled portions of the coating object area, and then the curled portions are pressed against the suction surface of the suction table to thereby perform the curl correction. Further, in the coating process with the UV-curing coating material, the UV light from the UV light source formed integrally with the coating head is applied to cure the material. In the vacuum suction section, as the destination, the bubbles or the like in the coating head are sucked.

Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors, with the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels with at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit composed only of pixels from the second group of pixels, and including ways to combine similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.

Abstract: In a plasma oxidation processing apparatus (100) which supplies a high-frequency bias power to an electrode (7) embedded in a stage (5), the interior surface, which is to be exposed to a plasma, of an aluminum lid (27) which functions as an opposite electrode for the stage (5) is coated with a silicon film (48) as a protective film. Positioned adjacent to the silicon film (48), an upper liner (49a) and a thicker lower liner (49b) are provided on the interior surfaces of a second container (3) and a first container (2). This prevents a short circuit or abnormal electrical discharge to the interior surfaces, making it possible to form a proper high-frequency current path and enhance the efficiency of power consumption.

Abstract: In oxidation of a silicon having irregularities, a silicon oxide film having a thickness as small as possible is formed in the side wall as compared with the bottom. A plasma is generated, using a plasma processing apparatus (100) which introduces microwave into a chamber (1) through a plane antenna (31) having plural microwave radiating holes (32), while applying a high-frequency power to a stage (2), under the conditions that the proportion of oxygen in the processing gas is in the range of 0.1 to 50% and the processing pressure is in the range of 1.3 to 667 Pa. By using this plasma, the ratio of the thickness of the silicon oxide film formed on the side wall surfaces of the irregularities to the thickness of the silicon oxide film formed on the bottom wall surfaces of the recessed portions of the irregularities is made not more than 0.6, while the thickness of the silicon oxide films formed on the bottom wall surfaces is not less than 6 nm and not more than 20 nm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laser welding two members made of thermoplastic resin material whereby high welding strength can be achieved and strength variations can be reduced. A first member 2 comprised of a transmissive thermoplastic resin that transmits a laser beam is brought into contact with a second member 3 comprised of an absorptive thermoplastic resin that absorbs a laser beam. Contact surfaces 4 are melted with a laser beam so as to join the two members. At least the contact surfaces 4 of the two members are pre-heated by a pre-heating means 20 at a temperature lower than the melting temperature of the contact surfaces. The contact surfaces 4 are then irradiated with a laser beam R generated by a laser beam generator 10 that is shone from the side of the first member so as to melt at least one of the contact surfaces of the two members.

Abstract: A condenser for a power module combines a plurality of aluminum materials to form a casing equipped with a channel for coolant therein, thus making it possible to keep material costs low. Moreover, thanks to the excellent workability of the aluminum materials, it is possible to adopt a configuration with a complex concave-convex configuration for a superior heat radiation performance. A channel for coolant with high heat radiation performance can also be structured inside the casing. The relatively thick bottom plate secures the rigidity required by the casing, while the relatively thin top plate can have a rigidity intentionally structured lower. In this manner, stress generated on joining surfaces of the condenser and an insulative substrate can be mitigated due to active deformation of the top plate.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor; a strobe unit; a preliminary. illumination controller which instructs the strobe unit to preliminarily illuminate for a predetermined period before main illumination; a reading controller which divides the image sensor into a plurality of regions, controls an exposure period for each region, corresponding to the preliminary illumination, and reads an image signal from each of the regions; and an imaging exposure setting unit which sets an appropriate amount of strobe light to be fired during imaging according to the image signals read from the regions; wherein the reading controller controls the exposure period for each region so that an overlapping period with the preliminary illumination period of the strobe unit is different from each other.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cylindrical body, comprising the step of forming the cylindrical body by bending a plate-like work having first projected finger to fourth projected finger at four corned parts and allowing the end faces thereof to abut on each other, wherein the main surface of the cylindrical body on the side where sags are present is formed in an outer peripheral wall surface and the rear surface thereof on the side where the burrs are present is formed in an inner peripheral wall surface, and a first projected part is formed of the first projected finger and the third projected finger and a second projected part is formed of the second projected finger and the fourth projected finger. After the cylindrical body is held by friction stir welding devices, the probe of a friction stir welding tool is buried from the direction of either of the first projected part and the second projected part, and scanned in the direction of the other of the second projected part and the first projected part.

Abstract: A condenser for a power module combines a plurality of aluminum materials to form a casing equipped with a channel for coolant therein, thus making it possible to keep material costs low. Moreover, thanks to the excellent workability of the aluminum materials, it is possible to adopt a configuration with a complex concave-convex configuration for a superior heat radiation performance. A channel for coolant with high heat radiation performance can also be structured inside the casing. The relatively thick bottom plate secures the rigidity required by the casing, while the relatively thin top plate can have a rigidity intentionally structured lower. In this manner, stress generated on joining surfaces of the condenser and an insulative substrate can be mitigated due to active deformation of the top plate.

Abstract: An information distribution system reduces the effort required to change an application in conjunction with changes in process content and changes in the receiver type or specifications while also accommodating broadcast processes. A style sheet database stores a plurality of output style sheets, which are information conversion rules including conditional expressions related to information distribution. An integrated device control service acquires output data and receiver information specifying the address of the receiver and the output style sheet corresponding to said receiver. When the output data satisfies the conditional expression contained in the output style sheet, the integrated device control service distributes converted output data, which is the output data converted based on the output style sheet, to the address of the receiver.

Abstract: A device control system does not require changing the application in conjunction with changes in process content or changes in the type or specifications of a device. A style sheet database 81 stores a plurality of style sheets describing information conversion rules for XML documents. A communication interface 84 acquires output data from an application 41, and acquires an XML document 1 containing information specifying the target device to which the output data is output and an output style sheet. Based on the output style sheet, an XML document converter 85 converts the XML document 1 acquired from the communication interface 84 to an XML document 2 including device control information for the target device. A device-specific XML document input/output unit 86 outputs the XML document 2 acquired from the XML document converter 85 to the device control service 73, 75 corresponding to the target device.

Abstract: The effort of changing an application in conjunction with a change in process content or change in the type or specifications of a receiver can be reduced, and a cooperative process involving a plurality of receivers without going through an application can be achieved. An integrated device control service 44 acquires output data, information related to the address of a first receiver and a first style sheet for the first receiver, and information related to the address of a second receiver and a second style sheet for the second receiver from an application 41 and a style sheet database 81 that stores a plurality of style sheets describing information conversion rules. In accordance with the success or failure of first conversion data distribution, the integrated device control service 44 sends second conversion data, which is the output data converted according to the second style sheet, to the second receiver.

Abstract: A bus bar has a lead portion and a bus bar portion which are integrally shaped. The lead portion is provided in such a shape that branches from the bus bar portion. A part of the lead portion forms a connection part directly electrically connected with a transistor electrode and a diode electrode by a connecting material such as solder. The thickness of the lead portion including the connection part is made smaller than the thickness of the bus bar portion. Accordingly, such an interconnection structure can be provided in which the electrode of the semiconductor device and the bus bar are electrically directly connected with each other and thermal stress at the connection part therebetween can be relieved.

Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels, arranged in rows and columns, wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels; and the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels, so that at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the second group and some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit are composed only of pixels from the first group, wherein the rows or columns that are composed only of pixels from the first group are composed of at most two colors of pixels from the first group.

Abstract: A digital camera enables high-speed zooming operation without use of a zoom lens. Light originating from a fixed-focal-length lens is split into two beams by a beam splitter, to thus form respective images on a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are equal to each other in terms of the number of pixels, but differ from each other in terms of a pixel size. The first image sensor acquires a wide image, and the second image sensor acquires a telephotography image. An output is produced by means of switching between the first image sensor and the second image sensor, in response to zooming operation. When the image from the first image sensor is recorded, focus detection is performed by use of an image signal from the second image sensor, to thus effect automatic focusing.

Abstract: An image of appropriate exposure is obtained in a short period of time. A controller and timing generator performs photometric measurement by use of an image signal acquired from a CCD, and determines appropriate light exposure. The CCD is divided into a plurality of regions: for example, an odd-number line region and an even-number line region. Timing at which accumulated electric charges are read from the respective regions is changed, thereby changing the light exposure of an image signal read from each of the regions. When the amount of light fired during the main flash is adjusted by means of causing a strobe to fire preliminary light, read timing is changed in such a way that an electric charge accumulation period of the odd-number line regions comes to an arbitrary point in time during the course of firing of preliminary light.

Abstract: In a digital camera having multiple optical systems, multiple image capturing elements are effectively driven to reduce power consumption. A digital camera has a first image capturing optical system having a lens and a first image sensor and a second image capturing optical system having a lens and a second image sensor. A controller and timing generator selects the image signal from the first image capturing optical system while controlling an operation or power of the second image sensor and a clock driver to be OFF when the zoom position falls within a first zoom range. When the zoom position falls within a second zoom range, the image signal from the second image capturing optical system is selected while an operation or power of the first image sensor and a clock driver is controlled to be OFF. An operation or power of the image capturing optical system which is not selected is stopped so that power consumption is reduced.