Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber in which a sample is subjected to plasma processing, a first radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power for generating plasma, a sample stage on which the sample is mounted, and a second radio frequency power supply that supplies radio frequency power to the sample stage, the plasma processing apparatus further includes a DC power supply that applies a DC voltage, that is changed according to a periodically repeated waveform, to the sample stage, and the waveform of one cycle has a period in which amplitude changes by a predetermined amount or more during a predetermined time. Accordingly, charged particles on a wafer surface are removed, a trench shape with high verticality can be obtained, and damage to a film that is not to be etched inside a trench can be reduced.

Abstract: A common electrode driver includes an inverting amplifier including a first resistor, a second resistor, and an operational amplifier, and a resistance ratio adjustment circuit that adjusts, in accordance with a length of one horizontal scan period, a resistance ratio being a ratio of a resistance value of the second resistor to a resistance value of the first resistor. A feedback voltage is provided to one end of the first resistor. The resistance ratio adjustment circuit sets the resistance ratio when second driving is performed, in which a length of one horizontal scan period is a second time longer than a first time, to be smaller than the resistance ratio when first driving is performed, in which a length of one horizontal scan period is the first time.

Abstract: Provided is a relay server capable of reducing network traffic when collecting large amounts of sensor data from a large number of sensor terminals. A relay server that collects sensor data from a plurality of sensor terminals and uploads the sensor data to a central server via a network includes a data collection unit that collects the sensor data from the plurality of sensor terminals, a relay data creation unit that calculates a presence of spatial overlaps between the collected sensor data, removes overlaps between the sensor data, and creates relay data integrating the sensor data, and an upload unit that uploads the relay data to the central server.

Abstract: To provide a voting system that allows re-voting during a period and makes tampering difficult after certification of votes, there is provided a voting system (100) using a distributed ledger (10) for voting by transferring a voting token (50) from a voting account to a vote-receiving account over a network (9), the voting system (100) including: a token-issuing means (21) for issuing the voting token (50) to the voting account generated by an account generation means; a transaction-information-holding means (22) for holding during a predetermined period, transaction information Tx for transferring the voting token (50) from the voting account to the vote-receiving account; and a recording means for recording the transaction information Tx recorded in the transaction-information-holding means (22) on the distributed ledger (10) at the end of the predetermined period.

Abstract: The vehicle controller is programmed to make a communication attempt from the first communication device to an energy supply device when the energy supply device supplies energy to the energy storage device from an external energy supply device; supply energy with communication between the first communication device and the energy supply device when a response is received from the energy supply device to the communication attempt; and supply energy with communication between the second communication device and the energy supply device when no response is received from the energy supply device to the communication attempt.

Abstract: Provided are a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving a solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus that are capable of selecting a pixel operating mode between a RS mode and a GS mode and switching a conversion gain read-out mode, where signals produced with different conversion gains are read, among several options depending on a scene. As a result, the solid-state imaging device, the method for driving the solid-state imaging device and the electronic apparatus can minimize a drop in SNR at the conjunction point between a HCG signal and a LCG signal and also achieve high full well capacity and little dark noise. In a solid-state imaging device, a pixel part includes pixels arranged in a matrix pattern, and each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion reading part. The solid-state imaging device is capable of performing rolling shutter (RS) and global shutter (GS).

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the same, and an electronic apparatus can achieve a high dynamic range based on multiple exposure technique, where images captured with different exposure durations are combined, with it being possible to prevent motion artifacts and LED flickers. A pixel has a 4:0 configuration. The pixel is divided into, for example, four sub-pixels all of which have the same color (for example, G (green)). An access control part sets different charge integration periods and different charge storage starting times between photoelectric conversion parts PD of the sub-pixels and controls the charge integration periods such that they overlap each other. In other words, the access control part sets different charge integration periods and different charge storage starting times, the number of which corresponds to the number of sub-pixels having the same color, and controls the charge integration periods such that they overlap each other.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion reading part of a pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element for storing therein, in a storing period, charges generated by the photoelectric conversion, a transfer element for transferring, in a transfer period following the storing period, the charges stored in the photoelectric conversion element, an output node to which the charges stored in the photoelectric conversion element are transferred through the transfer element, a reset element for resetting, in a reset period, the output node to a predetermined potential, an output buffer part for converting the charges in the output node into a voltage signal at a level determined by the amount of the charges and outputting the voltage signal as the pixel signal, and an output voltage control part for controlling an output signal level of the pixel signal from the output buffer part to a controlled level determined by the operational state.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an imaging system including an active pixel a comparator, a write control circuit, and an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) memory. The active pixel may include a photodiode and a plurality of transistors. The comparator may be operative coupled to the active pixel and configured to receive an output of the active pixel. The write control circuit may be operative coupled to the comparator and configured to receive an output from the comparator. The ADC memory may be operatively coupled to the write control circuit. A data structure may be stored in the ADC memory, and may be configured to store at least a first data string, which may include a set of flag bits for identifying each ADC operation performed and a set of ADC data bits.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an active pixel for use in a digital pixel sensor (DPS) imaging system having complete intra-pixel charge transfer functionality. The active pixel may include a first photodiode, and a first transfer gate and a second transfer gate each operatively coupled to the first photodiode. The first transfer gate and the second transfer gate may reside at opposite sides of the first photodiode. An electron drift current within the first photodiode may cause two direction charge transfer of charge of the first photodiode to the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an imaging system including an active pixel and an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuit including comparator. The comparator may be operatively coupled to the active pixel and configured to receive an output of the active pixel. The back-end ADC and memory circuit may be operatively coupled to the active pixel. The back-end ADC and memory circuit may include a write control circuit, an ADC memory operatively coupled to a read/write data bus and to the write control circuit, and a state latch operatively coupled to the write control circuit.

Abstract: A source follower element is adjacent to a first lateral part of a floating diffusion in a first direction orthogonal to the first lateral part, a reset element is adjacent to a second lateral part of the floating diffusion in the first direction, and the floating diffusion and the source follower element are connected through a wiring. Some of the photoelectric conversion elements are adjacent to each other in a second direction and spaced away from each other with a first spacing therebetween that allows at least the source follower element and the reset element to be formed therein. Some of the photoelectric conversion elements are adjacent to each other in the first direction and spaced away from each other with a second spacing therebetween that is less than the first spacing.

Abstract: A pixel includes photoelectric conversion elements for generating charges through photoelectric conversion and storing the generated charges in a storing period, transfer elements for transferring the stored charges, an output node to which the charges stored in the photoelectric conversion elements are transferred through the transfer elements, an output buffer part for converting the charges in the output node into a voltage signal at a level determined by the amount of the charges, and a comparator for performing a comparing operation of comparing the voltage signal from the output buffer part against a referential voltage and outputting a digital comparison result signal. The comparator performs, under control of a reading part, the comparing operation on read-out signals read in at least two different modes through different sequences of operations for reading performed on charges stored in the different photoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the same, and an electronic apparatus can achieve a high dynamic range based on multiple exposure technique, where images captured with different exposure durations are combined, with it being possible to prevent motion artifacts and LED flickers. A pixel has a 4:0 configuration. The pixel is divided into, for example, four sub-pixels all of which have the same color (for example, G (green)). An access control part sets different charge integration periods and different charge storage starting times between photoelectric conversion parts PD of the sub-pixels and controls the charge integration periods such that they overlap each other. In other words, the access control part sets different charge integration periods and different charge storage starting times, the number of which corresponds to the number of sub-pixels having the same color, and controls the charge integration periods such that they overlap each other.

Abstract: A pixel PXL includes a first photodiode PDSL and a second photodiode PSLS having different well capacities and responsivities, transfer transistors TGSL-Tr, TGLS-Tr for transferring the charges stored in the photodiodes to a floating diffusion FD, and a capacitance changing part 80 for changing the capacitance of the floating diffusion depending on a capacitance changing signal. The first well capacity of the first photodiode PDSL is smaller than the second well capacity of the second photodiode PDLS, and the first responsivity of the first photodiode PDSL is larger than the second responsivity of the second photodiode PDLS. With these configurations, it becomes possible to realize a widened dynamic range, prevent the read-out noise from affecting the performance, and eventually achieve improved image quality.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion reading part of a pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element for storing therein, in a storing period, charges generated by the photoelectric conversion, a transfer element for transferring, in a transfer period following the storing period, the charges stored in the photoelectric conversion element, an output node to which the charges stored in the photoelectric conversion element are transferred through the transfer element, a reset element for resetting, in a reset period, the output node to a predetermined potential, an output buffer part for converting the charges in the output node into a voltage signal at a level determined by the amount of the charges and outputting the voltage signal as the pixel signal, and an output voltage control part for controlling an output signal level of the pixel signal from the output buffer part to a controlled level determined by the operational state.

Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device. A comparator is configured to perform a first comparing operation of outputting a digital first comparison result signal obtained by processing the overflow charges overflowing from PD1 to FD1 in the storing period, a second comparing operation of outputting a digital second comparison result signal obtained by processing the charges stored in PD1 that are transferred to FD1 in the transfer period, and a third comparing operation of outputting a digital third comparison result signal obtained by processing the charges stored in PD1 that are transferred to FD1 in the transfer period and the charges stored in the charge storing part, and a memory control part controls whether or not to allow writing of the data corresponding to the third comparison result signal into a memory part, depending on the states of the first and second comparison result signals.

Abstract: A rear-facing occupant protection device is provided. The rear-facing occupant protection device is applied to a vehicle in which a seatback of a front seat is mounted in a rear-facing state in which a back surface of the seatback faces a vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion disposed at a front end of a vehicle cabin, or mounted such that the seat back is capable of taking the rear-facing state. The rear-facing occupant protection device includes: an energy absorbing portion disposed on at least one of a back surface of a seatback pad of the seatback and a rear surface of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion, the energy absorbing portion being configured to be deformed so as to absorb energy at a time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seatback, a seat cushion, and a wheelchair fixing device. The seat cushion is switchable to a tip-up state where the seat cushion has been tipped up so as to extend along the seatback. The seat cushion includes a seating surface and a rear surface that is on the opposite side of the seat cushion from the seating surface. The wheelchair fixing device is provided on the rear surface-side. The wheelchair fixing device is configured to fix a wheelchair to the seat cushion.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat main body and a hinge member. The seat main body is disposed in a state facing to a vehicle rear side. A seat back of the seat main body is attached to a vehicle body side vertical wall portion of a passenger compartment front portion. An end portion at the vehicle rear side of a seat cushion of the seat main body can be flipped up. One end portion of the hinge member is fixed to an end portion at the vehicle front side of the seat cushion and another end portion is rotatably coupled to a passenger compartment floor portion. The hinge member is provided with a weakened portion that, during a vehicle front collision in a state in which the seat main body is unfolded, plastically deforms and allows movement of the seat cushion toward the vehicle front side.