Abstract: When a subject is pressed by a plate and an acoustic wave is received by a probe via the plate, the acoustic wave is refracted because of the difference between a sound velocity in the subject and a sound velocity in the plate. When the refraction is not considered, a reduction in resolution occurs. Weights for signals or virtual wavefronts corresponding to the signals to be added to one another are determined using a thickness of the plate, the sound velocity in the plate, the sound velocity in the subject, positions of image elements (pixels or voxels) for image information, and arrival times of the acoustic wave from an object that is a sound source. The signals or the virtual wavefronts corresponding to the signals are added to one another, thereby acquiring the image information.

Abstract: A compression device for compressing a subject that is used in ultrasonic measurement that receives ultrasonic waves from the subject to acquire biological information of the subject, comprising: two compression plates that are used when compressing the subject, and that face each other in a vertical direction with respect to a horizontal plane; a flexible sheet for setting a subject on, which is stretched between upper ends of the two compression plates; a compression mechanism that relatively changes a distance between the two compression plates to sandwich and compress the subject that is set on the flexible sheet through the flexible sheet; and a supply unit for supplying a matching liquid onto the flexible sheet. The apparatus can match an acoustic impedance with a subject and can suppress leaking or overflowing of a matching liquid.

Abstract: Provided are an ultrasonic probe capable of forming an image without degradation even when the frequency band of a photoacoustic wave and the frequency band of an ultrasonic wave used in ultrasonography are separated from each other, and an inspection object imaging apparatus including the ultrasonic probe. The ultrasonic probe includes a first array device capable of transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave; and a second array device capable of receiving a photoacoustic wave. The first array device includes plural electromechanical transducers arranged in a direction perpendicular to a scanning direction, the second array device includes plural electromechanical transducers arranged in a two-dimensional manner, and the first array device and the second array device are provided on the same plane and in the scanning direction.

Abstract: A novel field-effect transistor is provided which employs an amorphous oxide. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transistor comprises an amorphous oxide layer containing electron carrier at a concentration less than 1×10?18/cm3, and the gate-insulating layer is comprised of a first layer being in contact with the amorphous oxide and a second layer different from the first layer.

Abstract: A novel field-effect transistor is provided which employs an amorphous oxide. In an embodiment of the present invention, the transistor comprises an amorphous oxide layer containing electron carrier at a concentration less than 1×10?18/cm3, and the gate-insulating layer is comprised of a first layer being in contact with the amorphous oxide and a second layer different from the first layer.

Abstract: There is provided an organic electroluminescence display includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate, a device separation film formed on the lower electrode, an organic compound layer formed on the device separation film and including a light emission layer, and an upper electrode formed on the organic compound layer, wherein the device separation film is a polyimide film having an imidation ratio in a range of 65% or more to less than 90%. The display is expected to have longer operating life.

Abstract: There is provided an organic electroluminescence display includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate, a device separation film formed on the lower electrode, an organic compound layer formed on the device separation film and including a light emission layer, and an upper electrode formed on the organic compound layer, wherein the device separation film is a polyimide film having an imidation ratio in a range of 65% or more to less than 90%. The display is expected to have longer operating life.

Abstract: A liquid-phase growth apparatus for growing a crystal on a substrate includes a crucible containing a solution that contains a raw material for forming the crystal, and a substrate holder for vertically holding the substrate. The substrate holder includes connectors, a receiving component, and a push component. The receiving component and the push component are opposite to each other and are connected by the connectors. The push component holds an upper portion of the substrate while the receiving component holds a lower portion of the substrate. The substrate holder containing the vertically held substrate is dipped into the solution. The receiving component ascends with buoyancy in the solution contained in the crucible, so that the substrate is now held securely and prevented from cracking due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: An organic EL display apparatus has a driving circuit. In the driving circuit, the source and drain of a driving transistor and the anode and cathode of an organic EL device are connected in series between voltage sources. A current passes between the source and drain of the driving transistor and between the anode and cathode of the organic EL device in accordance with a voltage between the gate and source of the driving transistor. Consequently, the organic EL device emits light. In order to store the voltage in the capacitor, a constant voltage source is connected to the gate of the driving transistor and the above-described series connection is disconnected at the source of the driving transistor and connected to a signal source. Then, a current signal output from the signal source passes between the source and drain of the driving transistor, and charges are stored in a capacitor in accordance with the current signal.

Abstract: A novel amorphous oxide applicable, for example, to an active layer of a TFT is provided. The amorphous oxide comprises microcrystals.

Abstract: A novel amorphous oxide applicable, for example, to an active layer of a TFT is provided. The amorphous oxide comprises microcrystals.

Abstract: A liquid-phase growth apparatus for growing a crystal on a substrate includes a crucible containing a solution that contains a raw material for forming the crystal, and a substrate holder for vertically holding the substrate. The substrate holder includes connectors, a receiving component, and a push component. The receiving component and the push component are opposite to each other and are connected by the connectors. The push component holds an upper portion of the substrate while the receiving component holds a lower portion of the substrate. The substrate holder containing the vertically held substrate is dipped into the solution. The receiving component ascends with buoyancy in the solution contained in the crucible, so that the substrate is now held securely and prevented from cracking due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a light irradiating portion configured to radiate light for generating ultrasonic waves from a light absorber, an ultrasonic transducing portion configured to transduce the ultrasonic waves to an electric signal, and a light guide member configured to introduce light from a light source to the light irradiating portion. A light irradiating region of the light irradiating portion is included within an ultrasonic receiving region of the ultrasonic transducing portion.

Abstract: A liquid-phase growth apparatus for growing a crystal on a substrate includes a crucible containing a solution that contains a taw material for forming the crystal, and a substrate holder for vertically holding the substrate. The substrate holder includes connectors, a receiving component, and a push component. The receiving component and the push component are opposite to each other and are connected by the connectors. The push component holds an upper portion of the substrate while the receiving component holds a lower portion of the substrate. The substrate holder containing the vertically held substrate is dipped into the solution. The receiving component ascends with buoyancy in the solution contained in the crucible, so that the substrate is now held securely and prevented from cracking due to thermal expansion.

Abstract: An organic EL display device includes a glass substrate and a flattening film arranged above the glass substrate. A plurality of anodes are arranged on a surface of the flattening film. A plurality of organic EL layers are arranged on a surface of the anodes. The flattening film has irregularities formed in at least a partial surface in a region outside a region where the plurality of organic EL layers are arranged. According to such a structure, an organic EL display device in which remaining of moisture in an insulating film is suppressed can be provided.

Abstract: A substrate for an organic EL display including an insulating layer, in which release of a substance derived from a material for the insulating layer by heating at a temperature equal to or lower than a temperature obtained by subtracting 20° C. from a decomposition temperature of the material for the insulating layer is detected by mass spectrometric detection at an S/N ratio smaller than 3/1.

Abstract: A solar cell is produced by dipping a multicrystalline silicon substrate 28 in a solution 24 containing silicon, growing a silicon layer on the substrate 28 while decreasing with time the temperature drop rate of the solution during the dipping of the substrate in the solution, and forming a pn junction in the silicon layer. Thereby, there is provided a silicon layer production method that can form a thick layer while restraining the degree of roughness, whereby a low-cost, multicrystalline-silicon solar cell production method is provided that realizes both a large current and a high FF.

Abstract: An organic EL display apparatus has a driving circuit. In the driving circuit, the source and drain of a driving transistor and the anode and cathode of an organic EL device are connected in series between voltage sources. A current passes between the source and drain of the driving transistor and between the anode and cathode of the organic EL device in accordance with a voltage between the gate and source of the driving transistor. Consequently, the organic EL device emits light. In order to store the voltage in the capacitor, a constant voltage source is connected to the gate of the driving transistor and the above-described series connection is disconnected at the source of the driving transistor and connected to a signal source. Then, a current signal output from the signal source passes between the source and drain of the driving transistor, and charges are stored in a capacitor in accordance with the current signal.

Abstract: There is provided a process of producing a multicrystalline silicon substrate having excellent characteristics as a solar cell substrate. A multicrystalline silicon ingot made by directional solidification 10 is cut such that a normal line of a principal surface 14 of a multicrystalline silicon substrate 13 is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of crystal grains 11 of the multicrystalline silicon ingot made by directional solidification 10.

Abstract: There is provided an organic electroluminescence display includes a lower electrode formed on a substrate, a device separation film formed on the lower electrode, an organic compound layer formed on the device separation film and including a light emission layer, and an upper electrode formed on the organic compound layer, wherein the device separation film is a polyimide film having an imidation ratio in a range of 65% or more to less than 90%. The display is expected to have longer operating life.