Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional semiconductor device includes forming an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers over a substrate, forming memory openings formed in the memory array region and monitor openings formed in a monitor region though the alternating stack, forming memory opening fill structures in the memory openings, forming monitor opening fill structures by depositing a monitor opening fill material in the monitor openings, recessing first portions of the alternating stack in a contact region and second portions of the alternating stack in the monitor region, and determining at least one characteristic of the recessed surfaces of the monitor opening fill structures. At least one characteristic of the memory openings or memory opening fill structures may be determined based on the determining at least one characteristic of the recessed surfaces of the monitor opening fill structures.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, in a case of duplex printing, a sheet is transported toward an image forming device along a sheet transport route, the image forming device forms an image on a first face, which is one of faces of the sheet, a reverse transport device reverses the front and back faces of the sheet and transports the sheet to a position upstream of a show-through reading device in a sheet transport direction, and the show-through reading device reads a second face, which is another face of the sheet. Then the show-through detector decides whether a show-through has occurred, on a basis of the image that has been read.

Abstract: A method for removing metallic foreign matter from a fluororesin and a method for producing a fluororesin with reduced metallic foreign matter, which methods include applying a magnetic field to a fluororesin with a magnet while dropping the fluororesin by gravity to thereby remove metal, wherein the methods provide a screen made of a magnetic material in a flow path of the fluororesin dropped by gravity, and when the fluororesin passes through the screen, the screen is not vibrated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative electrode active material for a lithium-ion battery, containing a Si phase, a Si—Zr compound phase, and a Sn—X compound phase in which X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ti, Co, Fe, Ni, and Zr, the Sn—X compound phase has a proportion of 0.1 mass % to 18 mass % to the whole, and the Si phase has a proportion of 10 mass % to 80 mass % to the whole.

Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable. The apparatus includes a robot arm that can control the posture of the surgical instrument, which is attached to the robot arm via a gimbal mechanism.

Abstract: Provided is a mobile device 10 with a spherical drive system that moves over a travel surface G and comprises four or more rotors 15, 15?, 16, 16?, 17, 17?, 18 and 18? that are rotationally driven by driving sources 20, 22, 24 and 26 while in contact with four driving spheres 11, 12, 13 and 14 from two different directions, thereby causing the driving spheres to rotate, wherein the centers P1, P2, P3 and P4 of the driving spheres are positioned at the side edges S1, S2, S3 and S4 of a virtual inverted hip roof pentahedron H having a base e disposed at a position higher than the center of each driving sphere and a ridge O disposed at a position lower than the center of each driving sphere, respectively.

Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus capable of performing a manipulation using a surgical instrument to be inserted into a body cavity, comprises a measurement device configured to measure an insertion depth and an insertion angle, with respect to the body cavity, of a shaft of the surgical instrument inserted into the body cavity, as input of the manipulation, wherein the measurement device measures the insertion depth by measuring a sound wave propagating in a space between a transmitter attached to one of the surgical instrument and a position within a predetermined range from a position of insertion to the body cavity, and a receiver attached to the other.

Abstract: A gas inspection management system includes: an inspection information database that stores inspection results and information on links to inspection images for objects of inspection; an access condition receiver that receives an input of an access request and an input of condition specification from a manager; a hardware processor that: selects part or all of the objects from the inspection information database, based on the access request, acquires information on the inspection results and the information on the links for the selected objects, and generates a display image including the information on the inspection results and the information on the links for the selected objects; and a display that displays the display image.

Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a first surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable, by using a second surgical instrument to be inserted into the body cavity. The apparatus comprises a robot arm configured to control the posture of the first surgical instrument attached to the robot arm. Instructions stored in a memory cause the apparatus to function as a control unit configured to control the motion of the robot arm such that the posture of the first surgical instrument is controlled in accordance with the posture of the second surgical instrument, in a case of a first mode, and controls the motion of the robot arm in accordance with a manipulation including contact to the robot arm, in a case of a second mode.

Abstract: A data input device includes: a controller that: acquires position data indicating position coordinates of a facility, estimates, based on the position data, one or more facility candidates, and causes a display to display an input screen showing the estimated one or more facility candidates as options for selection by a user, and creates inspection data relating to gas inspection of the one or more facility candidates selected by the user.

Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus for controlling a posture of a first surgical tool to be inserted into a body cavity and mechanically driven, by using a second surgical tool to be inserted into the body cavity, comprises: a mode switch configured to switch a first mode and a second mode, the second surgical tool being used to control the first surgical tool in the second mode; one or more sensors configured to measure an angle and depth of insertion of a shaft of the second surgical tool into the body cavity; and at least one memory and at least one processor which function as a computing unit configured to determine a target position of a control point that is a point for specifying the posture of the first surgical tool in order to control the posture of the first surgical tool.

Abstract: A spherical body drive type movement device 10 includes rotary bodies 14, 15, and 16 rotating n number of driving spherical bodies 11, 12, and 13 by being rotationally driven in a state of being in contact from two different directions with each of the driving spherical bodies 11, 12, and 13, and moves on a traveling surface G. The rotary bodies 14, 15, and 16 come into contact with the driving spherical bodies 11, 12, and 13 at positions higher than centers P1, P2, and P3 of the driving spherical bodies 11, 12, and 13 in contact and inside a virtual inverted n-gonal pyramid H or, at positions higher than the centers P1, P2, and P3 of the driving spherical bodies 11, 12, and 13 in contact and on lateral faces ?, ?, and ? of the virtual inverted n-gonal pyramid H.

Abstract: A motor controller includes: a rotation speed measurement portion that measures a rotation speed of a motor; and an energization method switching portion that switches an energization method so that the motor is driven by a 120-degree energization method when a rotation speed of the motor measured by the rotation speed measurement portion is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and the motor is driven by a 150-degree energization method when a rotation speed of the motor measured by the rotation speed measurement portion exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A light guide plate guides light from a light source to form an image in a space. A sensor detects an object in the space including an imaging position of the image. Based on an output from the sensor, a controller acquires at least one of a trajectory of a plurality of positions where the object is detected, a duration time of detecting the object, or a number of times the object is detected as an input parameter. The controller identifies an input pattern according to a movement of the object based on the input parameter, and outputs a signal corresponding to the identified input pattern.

Abstract: A drive apparatus of an electric motor which does not include a position detection sensor, the drive apparatus includes drive portion configured to drive the electric motor on the basis of a command value inputted from outside, a number-of-rotations detection portion configured to detect a number of rotations of the electric motor driven by the drive portion, an out-of-phase judgement portion judging that the electric motor is out of phase in a case where the number of rotations detected by the number-of-rotations detection portion is less than a predetermined threshold value, and the predetermined threshold value being configured to be changed on the basis of the command value inputted from outside.

Abstract: A motor controller includes: a rotation speed measurement portion that measures a rotation speed of a motor; and an energization method switching portion that switches an energization method so that the motor is driven by a 120-degree energization method when a rotation speed of the motor measured by the rotation speed measurement portion is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and the motor is driven by a 150-degree energization method when a rotation speed of the motor measured by the rotation speed measurement portion exceeds the predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus comprises: a distance measuring unit configured to measure a distance to an object in a body cavity; a hollow tube including a cylindrical portion to be partially inserted into the body cavity and a portion that performs distance measurement by the distance measuring unit, the hollow tube enabling distance measurement in a given position on a circumference at a predetermined distance from a major axis of the cylindrical portion; and a controller configured to control the position on the circumference around the major axis where the distance measuring unit performs distance measurement, such that approach of a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity to the object is sensed, wherein the controller controls the position on the circumference around the major axis in accordance with an advancing direction of a distal end of the medical instrument.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a negative electrode active material for a lithium-ion battery, containing a Si phase, a Si—Zr compound phase, and a Sn—X compound phase in which X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ti, Co, Fe, Ni, and Zr, the Sn—X compound phase has a proportion of 0.1 mass % to 18 mass % to the whole, and the Si phase has a proportion of 10 mass % to 80 mass % to the whole.

Abstract: A surgery assisting apparatus comprises: a distance measuring unit configured to measure a distance to an object in a body cavity; a hollow tube including a cylindrical portion to be partially inserted into the body cavity and a portion that performs distance measurement by the distance measuring unit, the hollow tube enabling distance measurement in a given position on a circumference at a predetermined distance from a major axis of the cylindrical portion; and a controller configured to control the position on the circumference around the major axis where the distance measuring unit performs distance measurement, such that approach of a medical instrument inserted into the body cavity to the object is sensed, wherein the controller controls the position on the circumference around the major axis in accordance with an advancing direction of a distal end of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A surgery supporting apparatus is capable of controlling a posture of a first surgical instrument that is inserted into a body cavity and mechanically drivable, by using a second surgical instrument to be inserted into the body cavity. The apparatus comprises a robot arm configured to control the posture of the first surgical instrument attached to the robot arm. Instructions stored in a memory cause the apparatus to function as a control unit configured to control the motion of the robot arm such that the posture of the first surgical instrument is controlled in accordance with the posture of the second surgical instrument, in a case of a first mode, and controls the motion of the robot arm in accordance with a manipulation including contact to the robot arm, in a case of a second mode.