Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device formed over an insulating substrate, typically a semiconductor device having a structure in which mounting strength to a wiring board can be increased in an optical sensor, a solar battery, or a circuit using a TFT, and which can make it mount on a wiring board with high density, and further a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, in a semiconductor device, a semiconductor element is formed on an insulating substrate, a concave portion is formed on a side face of the semiconductor device, and a conductive film electrically connected to the semiconductor element is formed in the concave portion.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to obtain a photoelectric conversion device having a favorable spectral sensitivity characteristic and no variation in output current without such a contamination substance mixed into a photoelectric conversion layer or a transistor. Further, it is another object of the present invention to obtain a highly reliable semiconductor device in a semiconductor device having such a photoelectric conversion device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a film formation apparatus including a first transfer chamber having a roller for sending a substrate, a film formation chamber having a discharging electrode, a buffer chamber provided between the transfer chamber and the film formation chamber or between the film formation chambers, a slit provided in a portion where the substrate comes in and out in the buffer chamber, and a second transfer chamber having a roller for rewinding the substrate. The slit is provided with at least one touch roller, and the touch roller is in contact with a film formation surface of the substrate. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for forming a film and a method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device that are performed by using such a film formation apparatus.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device provided with a photoelectric conversion layer between a first electrode and a second electrode is formed. The first electrode is partially in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer, and a cross-sectional shape of the first electrode in the contact portion is a taper shape. In this case, part of a first semiconductor layer with one conductivity type is in contact with the first electrode. A planer shape in an edge portion of the first electrode is preferably nonangular, that is, a shape in which edges are planed or a curved shape. By such a structure, concentration of an electric field and concentration of a stress can be suppressed, whereby characteristic deterioration of the photoelectric conversion device can be reduced.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo-sensor having a structure which can suppress electrostatic discharge damage. Conventionally, a transparent electrode has been formed over the entire surface of a light receiving region; however, in the present invention, the transparent electrode is not formed, and a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer of a photoelectric conversion layer are used as an electrode. Therefore, in the photo-sensor according to the present invention, resistance is increased and electrostatic discharge damage can be suppressed. In addition, positions of the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer, which serve as an electrode, are kept away; and thus, resistance is increased and withstand voltage can be improved.

Abstract: A video/audio data is recorded in a first storage region of a first recording medium. The video/audio data is decoded and converted into the video/audio data with a prescribed bit rate. The video/audio data is encoded in a format of a second recording medium and recorded in a second region of the first recording medium. The video/audio data recorded in the second storage is copied onto the second recording medium. The saving priority of the video/audio data recorded in the first and the second storage region is evaluated. When shortage in the empty capacity of each of the first and the second storage region of the first recording medium is detected, the video/audio data with a lower saving priority is cancelled.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that records currently displayed video onto an external medium as a still image. A JPEG file includes compressed data and auxiliary Exif information, and the auxiliary information includes a user information tag that can be used by a user. When a TV set records a still image according to JPEG, product model information about the TV set is written in the user information tag. Since TV sets have variations in the number of displayed pixels and the optimum image signal processing method from one product model to another, the TV set refers to the Exif information when playing back the JPEG file. If the Exif information includes product model information about the TV set, the JPEG file is subjected to the optimum signal processing based on the product model information, and is then displayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device formed over an insulating substrate, typically a semiconductor device having a structure in which mounting strength to a wiring board can be increased in an optical sensor, a solar battery, or a circuit using a TFT, and which can make it mount on a wiring board with high density, and further a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, in a semiconductor device, a semiconductor element is formed on an insulating substrate, a concave portion is formed on a side face of the semiconductor device, and a conductive film electrically connected to the semiconductor element is formed in the concave portion.

Abstract: In a recording medium drive, a frame on which a deck is attached and a printed circuit board are equipped on a bottom chassis in the drive body, and an indicating display device such as a fluorescent display tube is connected to the printed circuit board and arranged at a position corresponding to a window of a front panel. Projections for locking are formed integrally to the frame, and the fluorescent display tube is caught between the front panel and the projections for locking so as to be positioned. This allows the indicating display device to be held by a simple configuration, and manhours required for manufacture to be reduced.

Abstract: In a recording medium drive, a frame on which a deck is attached and a printed circuit board are equipped on a bottom chassis in the drive body, and an indicating display device such as a fluorescent display tube is connected to the printed circuit board and arranged at a position corresponding to a window of a front panel. Projections for locking are formed integrally to the frame, and the fluorescent display tube is caught between the front panel and the projections for locking so as to be positioned. This allows the indicating display device to be held by a simple configuration, and manhours required for manufacture to be reduced.

Abstract: An image processing method and an apparatus therefor calculating the rotations and the magnifications of a plurality of image pick-up devices, which are located at different positions and rotations and rotates, and pick-up images of the same object in a three-dimensional space, from the following equation by matching the image picked-up by the two arbitrary image pick-up devices, extracting the corresponding points, and detecting the coordinates values thereof on each image, ##EQU1## where, {expression}.sub.y : y component of the expression,{expression}.sub.z : z component of the expression,x,y,z: coordinate values of a point in a three-dimensional space,X.sub.L ', Y.sub.L ', X.sub.R ', Y.sub.R ': coordinate values of x, y on both images,.theta..sub.L, .phi..sub.L, .alpha..sub.L, .phi..sub.R, .alpha..sub.R,: differences in the rotation from the x-, y-, and z-axes of both image pick-up devices from the state to become a reference,f.sub.L,f.sub.R : magnifications of both image pick-up devices.

Abstract: Pick-and-place grasp candidates for positions at which an object can be picked and placed on a table are calculated based on the initial and goal states of the object, the surrounding environment state at the initial and goal states and the geometrical data of a robot hand. A space characterization is prepared which represents various states relating to the object around the grasp position in each of the calculated pick-and-place grasp candidates. The magnitude of the space in which the hand can be moved is estimated from the prepared space characterizations. Based on the results, position and orientation for pick-and-place grasp is selected from the pick-and-place grasp candidates. If the object cannot be moved from its initial state to its goal state through one grasp and movement action, the object is once returned onto the table and regrasped by the robot hand. Regrasp orientation of the object is selected from stable orientations which depend on the geometric data of objects to be handled.

Abstract: A checkered characteristic pattern is picked up by an image input device to form pick-up data. Characterizing points (intersecting points) are detected from the pick-up data. From the arrangement of the characterizing points about the center of the pattern and the positions of the characterizing points on the picture plane, a mapping function obtained when a TV camera is assumed to be a pin-hole camera is prepared. Reference positions of the characterizing points through the entire picture plane are calculated from the mapping function. The reference positions are compared with the actual positions on the picture plane to calculate a correcting function which in turn is stored in a correcting function preparing device. Normally, the inputted image is corrected by the correcting function and then outputted to an image output device.

Abstract: Pick-and-place grasp candidates for positions at which an object can be picked and placed on a table are calculated based on the initial and goal states of the object, the surrounding environment state at the initial and goal states and the geometrical data of a robot hand. A space characterization is prepared which represents various states relating to the object around the grasp position in each of the calculated pick-and-place grasp candidates. The magnitude of the space in which the hand can be moved is estimated from the prepared space characterizations. Based on the results, position and orientation for pick-and-place grasp is selected from the pick-and-place grasp candidates. If the object cannot be moved from its initial state to its goal state through one grasp and movement action, the object is once returned onto the table and regrasped by the robot hand. Regrasp orientation of the object the is selected from stable orientations which depend on the geometric data of objects to be handled.

Abstract: A control unit enables tapping onto an end surface of a workpiece while rotating the workpiece. A workpiece rotational speed command (Vc) is applied from an NC unit (90) to first and second speed control circuits (111, 121) of first and second control circuits (110, 120), to operate these control circuits in a speed control mode, so that the workpiece (70) and a tapper (80) respectively mounted on first and second main spindles (10, 20) are caused to rotate at the same speed by first and second main spindle motors (11, 21).

Abstract: A current control apparatus is provided for PWM-control of motor current using a microprocessor. Since motor current enters a control processor as a discrete value, a delay in control always arises. In prior art, it is not possible to accurately predict the actual current value needed for PWM control; as a result, the gain of the current control loop cannot be made large enough. Accordingly, a change pattern of A/D-converted motor current is utilized to estimate what the motor current will be at the present point in time, and current control is carried out based on this motor current. As a result, the delay is made equivalently small and the gain of the current control loop can be freely set, thus improving the response of the current control loop.

Abstract: An image processing method for matching edges detected in images of the same objects in a three-dimensional scene which are taken simultaneously by two or more image pick-up devices at different positions, in which the boundary segments on the edges are classified into apparently real segments, apparently imaginary segments or undefined segments, a planar surface is found for each boundary which has all apparently real segments and no apparently imaginary segment on it by using the information of the points of occlusion, the surface is regarded as the real surface in the case where there is only one surface which has no segment under it, so that surface information and the distance information at arbitrary points on the real surface are obtained.

Abstract: A spindle motor control method capable of high-accuracy contour machining uses a vector control processor executing a speed loop process to obtain a torque command (Tc). Vector control is performed (S4, S7) in accordance with a magnetic flux command (.PHI.c) set at a predetermined fixed value (CF.PHI.) when a spindle motor is being driven in a contour control mode. This prevents irregularity in motor speed and motor vibration attributable to a delay of the actual magnetic flux of the spindle motor behind the magnetic flux command, thus enabling high-accuracy contour machining. In a normal speed control mode or an orientation mode for tool replacement, the vector control is effected (S4 to S6, S8) in accordance with the magnetic flux command (.PHI.c), which is obtained on the basis of the torque command (Tc), its maximum value (Tcmax), maximum magnetic flux command (.PHI.cmax) set in dependence on the rotating speed of the motor, and minimum magnetic flux (NR.PHI.cmin, OR.PHI.min).

Abstract: A velocity control apparatus in which velocity of a servomotor (12) is controlled by PWM-control of an inverter is so adapted that the gain (K') of an amplifier section (11) in a current loop is held constant by detecting the power supply voltage of the inverter.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus according to this invention is for setting control parameters which correspond to a motor model in a case where machine tools controlled by a numerical control unit or the like employ a large variety of motor models, with control parameters corresponding to these motor models being set and changed externally. Accidents due to erroneous setting of the control parameters is reliably prevented. The apparatus includes registering means (22) in which a specific model code representing the control parameters of a respective motor model is registered in advance, and memory means (21) for temporarily storing the set control parameters as well as a model code transferred along with the control parameters. The model code registered in the registering means (22) is compared with the transferred model code to identify the motor model.