Abstract: There is disclosed an input device which prevent an operator's unintended operation without degrading operability, even when a plurality of operation input means is arranged close to each other so as to respond to various operations. When an input managing unit 25 receives an operation signal of a second input device 22 from a second input control unit 24, the input managing unit 25 determines whether a first input device 21 is being depressed or not from an operation signal from a first input control unit 23. Then if the first input device is being depressed, the operation signal from the second input device 22 is invalidated and discarded. Similarly, the operation signal from the second input device 22 is also invalidated until a given period has lapsed after the first input device 21 is released.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel hinge device and an electronic instrument using the hinge device which is extremely high in commercial value.

Abstract: A tear secretion quantity examination system for evaluating simply and non-invasively the tear secretion quantity has: a moisture evaporation quantity detection unit for detecting the moisture evaporation quantity from a subject's eye with a humidity sensor; and an operation unit for computing evaluation parameters of the tear secretion quantity based on a detection signal of the moisture evaporation quantity detection unit. The operation means approximates an attenuation portion of saw-tooth responses appearing for each blink in a tear evaporation profile in which the detection value obtained with the humidity sensor is plotted against the time.

Abstract: An ethylene-based polymer which is a copolymer obtained from ethylene and a C3 to C10?-olefin and satisfies the following requirements (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) simultaneously provides a blow-molded product and an extrusion-molded product excellent in moldability, mechanical strength and outward appearance. (i) melt flow rate [MFR2 (g/10 min)] under a loading of 2.16 kg at 190° C. is in the range of 0.01 to 10, (ii) melt tension [MT (g)] and the above melt flow rate [MFR2 (g/10 min)] satisfy the following relationship: MT?3.2×MFR2?0.55, (iii) an activation energy [Ea] of fluidization is less than 30 (KJ/mol), and (iv) swell ratio is 1.36 or more.

Abstract: The bridged metallocene compound or the olefin polymerization catalyst which comprises the compound, enables high polymerization activity in polymerizing one or more monomers selected from ethylene and ?-olefins. The bridged metallocene compound contains specific substituted cyclopentadienyl and fluorenyl groups which are linked via carbon or silicon atoms. In the method for the preparation of polyolefins, one or more monomers, preferably ethylene as an essential monomer, selected from ethylene and ?-olefins are copolymerized in the presence of the olefin polymerization catalyst comprising the bridged metallocene compound, so that an ethylene based polymer with an ethylene content of more than 50 mol % is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a low molecular weight olefin (co)polymer having a narrow molecular weight distribution with high productivity, by polymerizing or copolymerizing an olefin in the presence of an olefin polymerization catalyst comprising (A) a specific Group 4 transition metal compound, and (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (B-1) an organometallic compound, (B-2) an organoaluminum compound, (B-3) an organoaluminum oxy-compound, and (B-4) a compound which reacts with the Group 4 transition metal compound (A) to form an ion pair; and compounds useful in that process.

Abstract: A tear secretion quantity examination system for evaluating simply and non-invasively the tear secretion quantity has: a moisture evaporation quantity detection unit for detecting the moisture evaporation quantity from a subject's eye with a humidity sensor; and an operation unit for computing evaluation parameters of the tear secretion quantity based on a detection signal of the moisture evaporation quantity detection unit. The operation means approximates an attenuation portion of saw-tooth responses appearing for each blink in a tear evaporation profile in which the detection value obtained with the humidity sensor is plotted against the time.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery formed by depositing a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, on a metallic foil to be used as a current collector, in which the surface of the metallic foil is roughened through wet-etching and then the thin film is deposited on the roughened surface.

Abstract: The voice-based manipulation apparatus includes a storage section for storing voice information for specifying manipulation targets. A manipulation section manipulates the manipulation target that is associated with the voice information stored in the storage section. A search section searches the voice information stored in the storage section in association with the manipulation target and presents resultant voice information. The voice-based manipulation method includes storing voice information for specifying manipulation targets in a storage section; manipulating the manipulation target which is associated with the voice information stored in the storage section; and searching the voice information stored in the storage section in association with the manipulation target.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery characterized by applying a tension to a metallic foil so as to pull an area of the metallic foil on which a thin film composed of active material is deposited, from the both sides in the direction of longitude, when depositing the thin film on the metallic foil serving as a current collector.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating water permeability of the stratum corneum epidermidis, including a feeding device for feeding a carrier gas to a skin surface to be measured, a measuring device for measuring humidity of the carrier gas discharged from the feeding device over the skin surface, and a calculating device for calculating a water transpiration amount and an overall mass transfer coefficient of water in the stratum corneum epidermidis based on properties of the carrier gas and the humidity.

Abstract: The method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming copper wiring; reducing an oxide film on the surface of the copper wiring by heating the copper wiring to a temperature in a range of 250° C.-450° C. under reductive gas or by treating the copper wiring in plasma of reductive gas; and then forming a film of a material not containing oxygen on the copper wiring without exposing the copper wiring to external atmosphere, and can provide a semiconductor device with good copper wiring.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery characterized by applying a tension to a metallic foil so as to pull an area of the metallic foil on which a thin film composed of active material is deposited, from the both sides in the direction of longitude, when depositing the thin film on the metallic foil serving as a current collector.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery formed by depositing a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, on a metallic foil to be used as a current collector, in which the surface of the metallic foil is roughened through wet-etching and then the thin film is deposited on the roughened surface.

Abstract: To reduce the connection resistance between copper wirings, and to improve the reliability of the wiring such as anti-electromigration characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention provides pivot 207a of paper edge regulation element 207 that evens up the edges of placed sheets aside from rotation axis 206 of pickup roller 204, forms groove 208 into which rotation axis 206 that has ascended is fitted in paper edge regulation element 207, makes rotation axis 206 fit into groove 208 of paper edge regulation element 207 when pickup roller 204 is lifted to regulate the rotation of paper edge regulation element 207 and makes rotation axis 206 come off groove 208 of paper edge regulation element 207 and become free to rotate when pickup roller 204 is lowered.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for measuring a water transpiration amount, which comprises a barrel-type body having a humidity sensor inside of the body and opening portions on the top and bottom of the body, wherein a gas introductory path for feeding, from the outside of the apparatus, a gas having a predetermined water content to a surface to be measured is disposed at the side wall portion of the body and a freely openable or closable shutter is installed at the bottom opening portion of the body. The apparatus according to the present invention makes it possible to carry out accurate and prompt measurement of a water amount transpired locally from the skin surface, ocular surface or the like without being influenced by the external circumstances such as wind.

Abstract: A photovoltaic element having improved conversion efficiency and improved light confining property as well as a method of manufacturing the photovoltaic element with superior productivity are provided. The photovoltaic element includes an n type single crystal silicon substrate having first and second main surfaces, an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer formed on the first main surface, a p type amorphous silicon layer formed thereon, a conductive thin film formed thereon, a collecting electrode formed thereon, an intrinsic amorphous silicon layer formed on the second main surface of n type single crystal silicon substrate, an n type amorphous silicon layer formed thereon, a conductive thin film formed thereon and a back electrode formed thereon.

Abstract: A switching system comprises a time division switch for forming a fixed path through which a line circuit and a trunk circuit are connected to each other. Both the line circuit and the trunk circuit have a discrimination function and a transfer function. For example, when the trunk circuit receives system data packets including predetermined system data packets from a call processor, the trunk circuit discriminates the predetermined system data packets from the system data packets using an identifier of each packet. The predetermined system data packets are transferred to the line circuit through the fixed path of the time division switch. Receiving the predetermined system data packets from the trunk circuit, the line circuit stores the predetermined system data as well as system data for the trunk circuit received from the call processor into a memory thereof.

Abstract: A D channel packet communication system and a method of D channel packet communication in a private branch exchange allows connection control information conversion for a D channel packet which passes through a network, without call processor processing. The connection control information of D channel packet, such as a TEI, a LCGN and LCN, independently allocated for a communication between a packet terminal and a PBX (line side), and for a communication between the PBX and a network (network side) is adequately converted by the conversion control unit. The conversion control unit has first conversion information based on conditions of the connection control information to be used at the line side and at the network side, and derives second conversion information corresponding to each packet communication based on the first conversion information and connection control information contained in a packet of each packet communication.