Abstract: An optical information recording medium (1) includes on a substrate (50), a ROM layer (20), a RE layer (40), an intermediate layer (30) separating the ROM layer (20) and the RE layer (40), and a light transmitting layer (10) provided farthest from the substrate (50). The RE layer (40) is an information recording layer provided most farthest from the light transmitting layer (10), and is a recording layer of BCA recorded in a format easily determinable as compared to an information recording format used in the ROM layer (20), and antifouling property of a surface of the light transmitting layer (10) is set based on the RE layer (40). This makes it easy for the recording and reproducing apparatus to confirm a disc type, allows for sharing one recording and reproducing apparatus with other types of optical discs, and simplifies the disc production.

Abstract: Provided is a pattern inspection apparatus including: a charge formation means which forms charge on a surface of a substrate (7) by generating an electron beam from a second electron source (20) which is different from an electron source (1) which generates an electron beam before irradiating an electron beam (3), a current measuring means (34) which measures a value of current flowing in the substrate while the charge is formed on the surface of the substrate by the charge formation means; and an adjustment means (37) which adjusts the charge formed by the charge formation means so that the value of the current measured by the current measuring means is a predetermined target value. Provided is also a pattern inspection method which uses the pattern inspection apparatus. Thus, it is possible to easily set an optimal condition of precharge executed before inspection of a pattern formed by a semiconductor apparatus manufacturing process and automatically inspection whether the precharge is good.

Abstract: A video game apparatus includes a depth sensor configured to capture an area where a player exists and acquire depth information for each pixel of the image; and a gesture recognition unit configured to divide the image into a plurality of sections, to calculate statistics information of the depth information for each of the plurality of sections, and to recognize a gesture of the player based on the statistics information.

Abstract: A polishing composition for a hard disk substrate includes alumina particles, silica particles, and water. The volume median diameter of secondary particles of the alumina particles measured by a laser beam diffraction method is 0.1 to 0.8 ?m. The volume median diameter of primary particles of the silica particles measured by transmission electron microscope observation is 40 to 150 nm. The standard deviation in number-basis particle size of the primary particles of the silica particles measured by the transmission electron microscope observation is 11 to 35 nm. The polishing composition for a hard disk substrate can preferably reduce the embedding of alumina abrasive grains into the substrate without impairing the productivity.

Abstract: A disclosed method for observing the structure and characteristics of a specimen by an electron microscope realizes high-density charge accumulation on a specimen and improves the quality of voltage contrast images. For structural observation of a specimen and evaluation of its electrical characteristic using an electron beam, charging the specimen is performed. In this charging process, high-density charge accumulation on the specimen is achieved by irradiating the specimen with an electron beam set to have injection energy that falls within an injection energy band for which high charging efficiency is attained during electron beam irradiation and changing irradiation energy, while maintaining the injection energy.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium (1) includes on a substrate (50), a ROM layer (20), a RE layer (40), an intermediate layer (30) separating the ROM layer (20) and the RE layer (40), and a light transmitting layer (10) provided farthest from the substrate (50). The RE layer (40) is an information recording layer provided most farthest from the light transmitting layer (10), and is a recording layer of BCA recorded in a format easily determinable as compared to an information recording format used in the ROM layer (20), and antifouling property of a surface of the light transmitting layer (10) is set based on the RE layer (40). This makes it easy for the recording and reproducing apparatus to confirm a disc type, allows for sharing one recording and reproducing apparatus with other types of optical discs, and simplifies the disc production.

Abstract: The voltage Vdd is set to be lower than in the normal operation (step S100), then voltage is applied to each of the power-supply voltage applied node Vdd, the ground voltage applied node Vss, the semiconductor substrate and the well so that relative high voltage between the gate of turn-on transistor and the semiconductor substrate or the gate of turn-on transistor and well (steps S110 and S120). This process accomplishes rising of the threshold voltage of the transistor that is turned on, the reduction of the variation in the threshold voltage between a plurality of the transistors of the memory cell including latch circuit, and the improvement of the voltage characteristic of the memory cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polishing liquid composition for a magnetic disk substrate that can reduce residual inorganic particles and scratches without loss of productivity and a method of producing a magnetic disk substrate using the polishing liquid composition. The polishing liquid composition contains inorganic particles, a diallylamine polymer, an acid and water, the diallylamine polymer includes one or more constitutional units selected from those represented by the following general formulas (I-a), (I-b), (I-c) and (I-d), and the content of the diallylamine polymer in the polishing liquid composition is 0.008 to 0.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of functions including a function of executing an operation involving use of a consumable, a selecting unit that selects one function from the plurality of functions, a detector that detects a remaining level of the consumable and a controller. The controller is operable to switch displayed contents to information corresponding to the one function when the one function is selected, instruct execution of an operation corresponding to the changed displayed information, display a warning indication when the remaining level of the consumable is not more than a predetermined level, determine whether the selected one function is the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable, and inhibit the switching the displayed contents when one function is selected and is determined to be the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable while the warning indication is displayed.

Abstract: Since charging characteristics differ between the outer circumferential portion and the center portion of a sample to be inspected, equivalent inspection sensitivities cannot be obtained in the outer circumferential portion and the center portion of the sample to be inspected. A sample cover is provided in the outer circumferential portion of a sample holder on which the sample to be inspected is placed. Charging characteristics of the sample cover are changed according to charging characteristics of the sample to be inspected. Consequently, uniform charged states can be formed in the outer circumferential portion and the center portion of the sample. Inspection/observation of the outer circumferential portion of the sample can be realized at higher sensitivity than in the past.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus for an absorbent body is provided. The manufacturing apparatus includes: a mold member that includes a mold formed in a depressed shape on a predetermined face and moves the mold along a first direction intersecting a width direction of the predetermined face; a supply duct that is arranged at a predetermined position in the first direction and supply air towards the predetermined face from a supply opening, the air containing a liquid absorbent material; a partitioned-space-forming member that is disposed at a position opposite to the supply opening with the predetermined face in between, and that forms a partitioned closed space together with the predetermined face; and an air intake duct that sucks air in the closed space from a suction opening in order to set a pressure in the closed space to negative pressure.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine using hydrocarbon fuel and hydrogen gas as fuels and including a fuel injection device that injects liquid fuel, a hydrogen-blended fuel in which hydrogen gas is contained in the form of minute bubbles in a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, that is supplied to the fuel injection device. The hydrogen-blended fuel is stored in a fuel tank. Hydrogen gas that has escaped from the hydrogen-blended fuel in the fuel tank is fed to a minute-bubble producing device, which forms the fuel gas into minute bubbles and mixes the minute bubbles back into the hydrogen-blended fuel.

Abstract: The invention provides an analgesic anti-inflammatory patch of a hydrophobic type for topical application containing, in a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive(PSA), diclofenac sodium, pyrrolidone or a derivative thereof, a polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester, and an organic acid. The patch exerts the following effects: (1) diclofenac sodium is effectively and continuously released from a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive(PSA) and percutaneously absorbed, thereby attaining sustained, excellent pharmaceutical and pharmacological effects; (2) the patch per se has high tackiness and safety; and (3) diclofenac sodium remains stable in the Pressure Sensitive Adhesive(PSA).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of functions including a function of executing an operation involving use of a consumable, a selecting unit that selects one function from the plurality of functions, a detector that detects a remaining level of the consumable and a controller. The controller is operable to switch displayed contents to information corresponding to the one function when the one function is selected, instruct execution of an operation corresponding to the changed displayed information, display a warning indication when the remaining level of the consumable is not more than a predetermined level, determine whether the selected one function is the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable, and inhibit the switching the displayed contents when one function is selected and is determined to be the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable while the warning indication is displayed.

Abstract: Provided is a pattern inspection apparatus including: a charge formation means which forms charge on a surface of a substrate (7) by generating an electron beam from a second electron source (20) which is different from an electron source (I) which generates an electron beam before irradiating an electron beam (3), a current measuring means (34) which measures a value of current flowing in the substrate while the charge is formed on the surface of the substrate by the charge formation means; and an adjustment means (37) which adjusts the charge formed by the charge formation means so that the value of the current measured by the current measuring means is a predetermined target value. Provided is also a pattern inspection method which uses the pattern inspection apparatus. Thus, it is possible to easily set an optimal condition of precharge executed before inspection of a pattern formed by a semiconductor apparatus manufacturing process and automatically inspection whether the precharge is good.

Abstract: A document reader comprises line sensors that are staggeredly arranged and read a white reference plate to obtain a white reference read value A, and a white reference average value AA is determined from value A for each line sensor. The line sensors read another white reference plate placed on a document support plate to obtain a white reference read value B, and a white reference read average value BB is determined from value B for each line sensor. A sensitivity effect coefficient C for each line sensor is determined by dividing BB by AA. Using the line sensors, there are obtained a document read value E for each line sensor by reading an illuminated document on the document support plate, a white reference read value Aa by reading with the white reference plate before reading the document, and a black reference read value D by reading the white reference plate under a condition that an illumination is turned off before reading of the document.

Abstract: A medium circulating apparatus of engine oil, which improves startability and warm up ability of an internal combustion engine, includes a microbubble generator that generates microbubbles and mixes the microbubbles into the circulating engine oil. Further, the medium circulating apparatus includes a medium temperature acquiring unit that acquires a temperature of the engine oil. The microbubbles are generated by the microbubble generator when the temperature of the engine oil is less than or equal to a predetermined value in order to decrease a viscosity, a heat conductivity, and a heat capacity of the engine oil in which the microbubbles are mixed.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver capable of reducing time and labor to back-up contents recorded on one recording medium to another recording medium. A digital broadcast receiver extracts the contents recorded, out of order, on a first recording medium by an extracting unit according to the titles or genres recorded in a content list, and automatically rearranges the extracted contents using an arranging unit according to video-recording date-and-hour recorded in the content list, for recording as a content list onto a second recording medium (300).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of functions including a function of executing an operation involving use of a consumable, a selecting unit that selects one function from the plurality of functions, a detector that detects a remaining level of the consumable and a controller. The controller is operable to switch displayed contents to information corresponding to the one function when the one function is selected, instruct execution of an operation corresponding to the changed displayed information, display a warning indication when the remaining level of the consumable is not more than a predetermined level, determine whether the selected one function is the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable, and inhibit the switching the displayed contents when one function is selected and is determined to be the function of executing the operation involving use of the consumable while the warning indication is displayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ultrasonic motor including a wire having a coiled stator at one end thereof, a vibration generating device disposed at another end of the wire, a moving member that is in contact with the stator, a guide member that guides the rotation of the moving member, and an elastic member that covers the periphery of the wire. Accordingly, the driving efficiency of the ultrasonic motor that has a simple structure and that can be easily downsized can be enhanced and the performance stability thereof can be realized.