Abstract: A method of setting validity period of IC card, includes preparing IC card including change unit whose state changes with lapse of time starting from initial state without external power, measuring unit configured to measure state of change unit so as to generate information indicating whether or not validity period has elapsed, and operation unit configured to be operable if information indicates that validity period fails to have yet elapsed, and to be inoperable if information indicates that validity period has elapsed, preparing IC card case capable to house IC card by user, IC card case including identification unit configured to determine whether or not user is legitimate, performing user identification utilizing identification unit, when IC card is housed in IC card case, and transmitting signal to change unit in IC card depending on result of user identification, signal initializing change unit to initial state.

Abstract: A method of setting validity period of IC card, includes preparing IC card including change unit whose state changes with lapse of time starting from initial state without external power, measuring unit configured to measure state of change unit so as to generate information indicating whether or not validity period has elapsed, and operation unit configured to be operable if information indicates that validity period fails to have yet elapsed, and to be inoperable if information indicates that validity period has elapsed, preparing IC card case capable to house IC card by user, IC card case including identification unit configured to determine whether or not user is legitimate, performing user identification utilizing identification unit, when IC card is housed in IC card case, and transmitting signal to change unit in IC card depending on result of user identification, signal initializing change unit to initial state.

Abstract: A method of setting validity period of IC card, includes preparing IC card including change unit whose state changes with lapse of time starting from initial state without external power, measuring unit configured to measure state of change unit so as to generate information indicating whether or not validity period has elapsed, and operation unit configured to be operable if information indicates that validity period fails to have yet elapsed, and to be inoperable if information indicates that validity period has elapsed, preparing IC card case capable to house IC card by user, IC card case including identification unit configured to determine whether or not user is legitimate, performing user identification utilizing identification unit, when IC card is housed in IC card case, and transmitting signal to change unit in IC card depending on result of user identification, signal initializing change unit to initial state.

Abstract: A photoelectric encoder includes an optical receipt chip on which a plurality of photodiodes (PDs) are laid out along a measurement axis “X” so that these are organized into an array. The layout pitch of PDs disposed at end portions of the array is made less than the pitch of those at a central portion of the array. Similarly the width of a light acceptance surface of the former is less than that of the latter.

Abstract: A plurality of photodiodes are disposed along a measurement axis on an optical receipt chip of a photoelectric encoder. Formed on each light acceptance surface of these photodiodes is a second optical grating which has more than one light shield portion extending in a “y” direction. Each acceptance surface has a portion that is disposed obliquely relative to the extending direction of the light shield portion.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning unit, a regular flushing unit, capping unit, and an ejection-amount measuring unit as droplet ejecting head maintenance units used for function maintenance, function recovery, adjustment, or inspection of a liquid ejecting head. The droplet ejecting head maintenance units are arranged in a group in a movable platen as a maintenance-unit installing section. The movable platen is supported by an accessory stand physically separated from a main body.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes an ejection defect test unit for inspecting an ejection defect of the functional liquid droplet ejection head. The ejection defect test unit includes a drawn unit on which a predetermined test pattern is drawn by test ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head and ejection-defect determination means for determining the ejection defect by capturing an image of the test pattern drawn on the ejection-defect test unit and recognizing the image. The drawn unit is disposed on a scan moving axis offset from the set table towards the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus performs a drawing operation on a workpiece set on a set table by driving the ejection of a functional liquid droplet ejection head in a head unit while moving the head unit in a main scanning direction relative to the set table facing a drawing area by an X-axis table. The liquid droplet ejection apparatus includes a periodic flushing unit which is disposed on a main scan moving axis at a position offset from the drawing area towards the main scanning direction and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during non-drawing time and a pre-drawing flushing unit which is disposed adjacent to the set table and faces the drawing area and which receives forcible ejection from the functional liquid droplet ejection head performed immediately before starting the drawing operation.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising: a main unit with a display device attached to a palm or back of a hand; an image-pickup section attached to any one of fingers; a detection device which detects bending of a plurality of fingers; and a control section which changes an operating mode of the image-pickup section or display device according to the state of bending of the plurality of fingers detected by the detection device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera comprising a planar image display device, a camera body coupled to an end of the image display device, and a printer device coupled to another end of the image display device. In the digital camera, the camera body and/or the printer device can store the image display device, and the camera body and the printer device can be coupled to each other through a coupling device when the image display device is stored.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus of the present invention includes a cleaning unit, a regular flushing unit, capping unit, and an ejection-amount measuring unit as droplet ejecting head maintenance units used for function maintenance, function recovery, adjustment, or inspection of a liquid ejecting head. The droplet ejecting head maintenance units are arranged in a group in a movable platen as a maintenance-unit installing section. The movable platen is supported by an accessory stand physically separated from a main body.

Abstract: A droplet-discharging apparatus for discharging a droplet onto a base through the nozzle of a head, the apparatus including: a platform retaining the base; a plurality of transportation units, each including a head group having at least one head with a nozzle line and each being moved in the sub-scanning direction on an axis or on a plurality of axes disposed parallel to each other; and a position-controlling unit for adjusting relative position of the adjacent head groups arranged in the main scanning direction or in the sub-scanning direction to adjust the nozzle pitch by independently driving the plurality of transportation units, wherein the droplet is discharged onto predetermined portions on the base from the head group while the transportation units are relatively moved for the platform in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet ejection apparatus, a plurality of color-dependent function liquid droplet ejection heads are arranged such that a plurality of color-dependent partial imaging lines, each formed by a plurality of ejection nozzles, are formed so as to continuously make up a single imaging line in the Y-axis direction. An imaging process is performed by repeating a main scanning operation for driving each function liquid droplet ejection head in synchronization with moving of the substrate in the X-axis direction, and a sub-scanning operation for moving the function liquid droplet ejection heads through a carriage unit in the Y-axis direction by a length of a partial imaging line.

Abstract: IC card receiving power from terminal and performing process, IC card comprises storage storing first identification information uniquely assigned to IC card, acquisition unit acquiring second identification information from terminal, first timer including first change unit whose state changes with lapse of time without power, state of first change unit changing from first initial state to final state via intermediate state, first timer outputting first signal indicative of changed state of first change unit when IC card receives power, comparison unit comparing second identification information with first identification information, determining whether second identification information and first identification information are identical, and providing first initializing signal according to at least one of determined results, and controller initializing first change unit to first initial state when receiving first initializing signal, controller further controlling IC card to make it inhibit process until stat

Abstract: A digital still camera is provided with a freely rotatably dial. The camera has a liquid crystal display screen provided on its back and the screen displays film borders. A thumbnail image corresponding to main image data that has been recorded on a memory card is displayed in a thumbnail image border within the film borders. By rotating the dial, the film borders are moved so that a desired thumbnail image becomes enclosed by a designating frame. When the thumbnail image is enclosed by the designating frame, the main image is displayed an area. When a blank area is enclosed by the designating frame, the main image data can be recorded on the memory card. Operability is facilitated because recording, playback and designation of a frame to be played back can all be performed in accordance with rotation of the dial.

Abstract: It is acknowledged that an electric double layer capacitor is markedly superior in power density and cycle characteristics to a secondary battery. However, a higher energy density is required to apply it to a power supply of hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle or the like. The present inventors have found that a carbonaceous material containing copper or a compound of copper exhibits excellent characteristics as an electrode material for capacitor and can realize a capacitor having a large capacity. In the electrode material and the capacitor, copper or a compound of copper exists in the amount of 0.8 to 30 parts by weight calculated on the metal basis based on 100 parts by weight of the carbonaceous material, particularly preferably.

Abstract: A convex polycrystalline silicon film is formed on a handle wafer. A semiconductor layer is formed on the polycrystalline silicon film. The semiconductor is thinner on its areas in which the convex polycrystalline silicon film is formed and is thicker on its areas in which the convex polycrystalline silicon film is not formed. An opening is formed in each of those areas of an insulating film which are located under respective thick-film semiconductor areas of the semiconductor layer. The polycrystalline silicon film is formed in the openings to connect electrically the thick-film semiconductor areas and the handle wafer together.

Abstract: A photoelectric encoder includes an optical receipt chip on which the light acceptance surfaces of a plurality of photodiodes are disposed two-dimensionally. Four optical signals different in phase from one another (i.e., light signals with phase “A,” phase “B,” phase “AA,” and phase “BB”) are guided to fall onto the light acceptance surfaces. The shape of each light acceptance surface is a regular hexagon.