Abstract: There is a need for a piezoelectric element capable of improving a productivity and a yield without impairing the piezoelectric characteristic and a method for manufacturing the same. A piezoelectric element is provided with a substrate, a first electrode film disposed on the substrate, a piezoelectric film disposed on the first electrode film, and a second electrode film disposed on the piezoelectric film. The piezoelectric film has a laminated structure composed of a plurality of crystallized piezoelectric thin films. The piezoelectric film having a predetermined thickness is formed by repeated cycles of a film formation step of forming a piezoelectric thin film and a crystallization heat treatment step of heat-treating the piezoelectric thin film to effect crystallization. In this manner, a piezoelectric film exhibiting uniform crystallinity in the film thickness direction may be produced.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscopic sensor element including a cantilever vibrator, at least one first depression on the cantilever vibrator, a pair of detection electrodes provided on the cantilever vibrator and at least one second depression on the cantilever vibrator. The cantilever vibrator projects from a base area of the vibrating gyroscopic sensor element and the first depression is effective to adjust the frequency difference between a vertical resonance frequency and a horizontal resonance frequency of the vibrator. Further, the second depression is effective to adjust the difference of signals output from the detection electrodes.

Abstract: A league is formed by a given number of teams formed by a plurality of players and having an identical team level, and the teams compete for league ranking based on team points obtained in a given period. A team level of each team is changed based on the league ranking. A player plays a game using a game device to obtain the team points. When the number of teams is less than the given number when forming a league, a mirror team of the team that belongs to another league is added. The team points of the mirror team are calculated separately from the team points of the actual team to determine league ranking in the league of the mirror team. The team level of the actual team of the mirror team is changed based on the league ranking of the actual team and the league ranking of the mirror team.

Abstract: A league is formed by a given number of teams formed by a plurality of players and having an identical team level, and the teams compete for league ranking based on team points obtained in a given period. A team level of each team is changed based on the league ranking. The player plays a game using a game device to obtain the team points.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a photocatalytic coating material which includes: at least (a) photocatalytic oxide particles; (b) a hydrophobic-resin emulsion; and (c) water, wherein the average particle size of the photocatalytic oxide particles is smaller than that of the particles dispersed in the hydrophobic-resin emulsion. This invention is also intended to provide a self-cleaning water-base coating composition which includes: (a) water-based silicone emulsion or the like; (b) photocatalytic particles or a photocatalytic sol; and (c) water, wherein the solid matter of the ingredient (b) constitutes less than 5% by weight of the total solid matter of the coating composition. This invention is also intended to provide a self-cleaning water-base coating composition which includes: (a) water-based silicone emulsion or the like; (b) whisker or the like; (c) photocatalytic particles; (d) an inorganic coloring pigment; and (e) water.

Abstract: A vibrating gyrosensor includes a support substrate on which a wiring pattern having lands is formed. A vibrating element is mounted on a surface of the support substrate. The vibrating element includes a base part having a mounting surface on which a number of terminals connectable to the lands is formed. A vibrator part integrally projects from a side of the base part and has a substrate-facing surface coplanar with the mounting surface of the base part. The vibrator part has a first electrode layer, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode layer which are laminated on the substrate-facing surface. The vibrator part vibrates when an AC signal is applied between the first and second electrode layers. The central electric field strength of the AC signal is set at a position shifting to the positive direction from the center of a hysteresis loop of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A laser beam oscillated from a laser source is folded in its path by first and second plane mirrors and enters a beam expander. The surface of each plane mirror is deteriorated with illumination by the laser beam and the reflectance is reduced. To avoid a light quantity of the laser beam entering the beam expander from being reduced below a reference value, when the laser beam is illuminated over a certain time, a position on each of the first and second plane mirrors at which the laser beam is illuminated is changed by a structure for rotating and/or translating a reflecting surface of each plane mirror on a plane, which includes the plane mirror, while an optical axis is kept same. Thus the useful life of each plane mirror can be prolonged without displacing the optical axis.

Abstract: Reflected light caused by the state of the surface of a wafer, a foreign material or a defect is superimposed on a haze frequency component caused by the type and thickness of a film or a surface irregularity. It has therefore been difficult to accurately measure the haze frequency component by use of a fixed threshold value. In order to detect a haze frequency component caused by a haze present on the surface of an object to be inspected, light propagating from the object to be inspected is detected and converted into an electric signal. The electric signal is sampled at a predetermined sampling time interval and converted into digital data. A frequency component caused by a foreign material, a defect or the like is separated from the digital data to ensure that a haze frequency component is selected. The haze frequency component is caused by a stain attached to the surface of the wafer, hazy tarnish, a surface irregularity or the like.

Abstract: There is provided a recording/playback device able to differentiate the type of an optical disc or another such optical recording medium with a high degree of precision while correcting wavefront aberrations. The recording/playback device has a detection part for sequentially detecting the surface of a cover layer and one or a plurality of signal recording surfaces of an object to be detected on the basis of an output signal of a photodetector, a medium differentiation part for differentiating the type of the detected object on the basis of the detection results, an aberration correction element, and an aberration control part for controlling the aberration correction state of the aberration correction element.

Abstract: An optical pickup is provided for preventing an objective lens from colliding with an optical recording medium at the stage of initial adjustments. The optical pickup device comprises a servo circuit, and a lens driver for driving an objective lens. In the servo circuit, a drive signal generator supplies the lens driver with one of a first focus drive signal for moving the objective lens in a direction closer to an information recording layer, and a second focus drive signal for moving the objective lens in a direction away from the information recording layer. A controller in a timing generator switches a signal supplied to the lens driver from the first focus drive signal to the second focus drive signal when the level changes by a predetermined range or more in a servo signal which is generated during a period in which the first focus drive signal is being supplied to the lens driver.

Abstract: A focal follow-up control circuit performs follow-up control for a focal point on the data recording/reproducing region by reciprocating an object lens provided in a pickup with respect to a rotating direction of a data recording/reproducing region of an optical disk. The focal follow-up control circuit outputs a focal follow-up deviation signal indicative of a deviation between a follow-up central position of the object lens and a movable neutral point to a spindle control circuit. The spindle control circuit carries out feedback control of a number of rotations of a spindle motor so as to bring this focal follow-up deviation signal to zero.

Abstract: A system is provided wherein data processing devices are connected to a high-speed picture archiving and communications system (PACS) server network that archives and transmits medical image data. As part of a diagnostic process, medical images are processed at the data processing devices and image processing parameter (IPP) sets are created. The image processing parameters are attached to image diagnosis reports and can be used to recreate the processing of key images that are referenced in the image diagnosis reports. Users of the diagnostic reports can send the IPP sets to the PACS server network to recreate and retrieve key diagnostic images. The image data can be compressed for transmission over low bandwidth networks.

Abstract: An apparatus including a first engaging portion for holding an optical pickup, a second engaging portion to be engaged with the first engaging portion, a transfer portion for driving the second engaging portion to transfer the first engaging portion in a radial direction, a calculating portion for calculating a backlash value between the first and second engaging portions in a transfer direction of the first engaging portion, and a driving control unit. The driving control unit controls a driving portion to transfer the optical pickup based on a calculated backlash value.

Abstract: To improve characteristics by achieving size reduction and high Q value with a simple structure. A vibratory gyrosensor 1 according to the present invention includes a supporting substrate 2, which has a circuit element mounted thereon and a wiring pattern having a plurality of lands 4 disposed thereon; and a vibration element 20 mounted on a surface 2-1 of the supporting substrate. The vibration element 20 includes a base portion 22 having a mounting surface 22-2 provided with a plurality of terminals 25 that are connected to the lands; and a vibrator portion 23 extending integrally from a side of the base portion 22 in a cantilever manner and having a substrate-facing surface which is flush with the mounting surface of the base portion 22, the substrate-facing surface being provided with a first electrode layer 27, a piezoelectric layer 28 stacked on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer 29, 30 stacked on the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element with a substrate, a first electrode film disposed on the substrate, a piezoelectric film disposed on the first electrode film, and a second electrode film disposed on the piezoelectric film, and a method of forming same. The piezoelectric film has a laminated structure composed of a plurality of crystallized piezoelectric thin films. The piezoelectric film has a predetermined thickness and is formed by repeated cycles of a film formation step of forming a piezoelectric thin film and a crystallization heat treatment step of heat-treating the piezoelectric thin film to effect crystallization.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device is disclosed. A substrate has an arm portion. A piezoelectric member is disposed on the substrate. A drive electrode oscillates the arm portion by a piezoelectric operation of the piezoelectric member. First and second detection electrodes detect a Coriolis force from the oscillating arm portion. A first lead electrode having a first area is disposed on the substrate and connected to the first detection electrode and connects the first detection electrode to the outside. A second lead electrode has a second area substantially the same as the first area. The second lead electrode is disposed on the substrate asymmetrical to the first lead electrode with respect to an axis in a longitudinal direction of the arm portion and connected to the second detection electrode. The second lead electrode connects the second detection electrode to the outside. A third lead electrode connects the drive electrode to the outside.

Abstract: A drive electrode to which a voltage for allowing a vibrator to vibrate is applied and first and second detection electrodes extending in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator in parallel to each other are formed as the upper electrode such that the drive electrode is interposed between the first and second detection electrodes and does not contact with the detection electrodes. In the case where there is a difference between the detection signals detected in the first and second detection electrodes when a voltage is applied between the lower electrode and drive electrode to allow the vibrator to vibrate at a vertical resonance frequency, a laser light is irradiated to a desired portion of the vibrator to apply grinding operation based on detection signals detected in the first and second detection electrodes, thereby adjusting the shape of the vibrator.

Abstract: A vibrating gyrosensor includes a support substrate on which a wiring pattern having a plurality of lands is formed, and vibrating elements mounted on a surface of the support substrate, wherein at least two vibrating elements are mounted on the support substrate, for detecting vibrations in different axial directions.

Abstract: A heat pipe is installed in a generating chamber of a module being comprised of a solid oxide fuel cell or a bundle of a plurality of solid oxide fuel cells connected in parallel or series. Preferably, the heat pipe is installed across the generating chamber and a combustion chamber for burning residual fuel unused as electrochemical reaction. By installing the heat pipe as described above, the heat transfer between both the chambers are executed smoothly, and thereby it is possible to make heat uniform in the module, in starting state, normal generating state, high power output state or abnormal state of the module.

Abstract: A recording medium (100) on which record information is recorded, wherein the recording medium is displaced relatively with respect to a recording/reproducing device (60) for performing at least one of recording and reproduction of the record information, along each of one direction (X-axis) and another direction (Y-axis), and a track (120) which is a guide in recording the record information is formed such that a relative displacement direction of the recording/reproducing device due to the at least one of recording and reproduction of the record information is distributed substantially uniformly in both the one direction and the another direction.