Abstract: A dispersant for suspension polymerization may, even when a usage amount thereof is low, enable obtaining polymer particles having a small average particle diameter with few coarse particles, and having favorable plasticizer absorptivity. Such a dispersant may include a vinyl alcohol polymer having a structure of following formula (1) and satisfy inequality (2) 0.4?[X]×102/[Ra,1]2?3.0??(2). In formula (1), R is a hydrocarbon group having 4 or more carbon atoms. In inequality (2), [X] is a mole percentage content of the structure of formula (1) with respect to total structural units of the vinyl alcohol polymer; and [Ra,1] is an HSP distance ((J/cm3)1/2) between the structure of formula (1) and vinyl chloride.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus includes a spatial light modulator (SLM), a generation unit that acquires a measurement result from a measurement system measuring positions of semiconductor chips arranged on a first substrate, determines a wiring connecting the semiconductor chips based on the measurement result, generates control data used for control of the SLM in generating the determined wiring pattern, and stores the control data in a storage unit, and an exposure processing unit that controls the SLM using the control data stored in the storage unit and exposes the wiring pattern, wherein at least one of measurement of the positions of the semiconductor chips on the first substrate, acquisition of the measurement result, determination of the wiring pattern, generation of the control data, or storage of the control data is executed while the exposure processing unit is performing exposure processing on a second substrate different from the first substrate.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector, a positive electrode active material layer on a part of a surface of the positive electrode current collector containing a positive electrode active material, and an insulating layer on other parts of the surface of the positive electrode current collector containing an inorganic filler. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector, and a negative electrode active material layer on a part of a surface of the negative electrode current collector containing a negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A silicon-based edge coupler for coupling a fiber with a waveguide includes a cantilever member being partially suspended with its anchored end coupled to a silicon photonics die in a first part of a silicon substrate and a free end terminated near an edge region separating a second part of the silicon substrate from the first part. The edge coupler further includes a mechanical stopper formed at the edge region with a gap distance ahead of the free end of the cantilever member. Additionally, a V-groove is formed in the second part of the silicon substrate characterized by a top opening and a bottom plane symmetrically connected by two sloped side walls along a fixed Si-crystallography angle. The V-groove is configured to support a fiber with an end facet being pushed against the mechanical stopper and a core center being aligned with the free end of the cantilever member.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a photonic substrate a first modulator arm disposed on the photonic substrate. The first modulator arm is configured to modulate a first optical signal portion of an input optical signal at a first signal level. The optical modulator further includes a second modulator arm disposed on the photonic substrate. The second modulator arm is configured to modulate a second optical signal portion of the input optical signal at a second signal level that is different from the first signal level. The optical modulator further includes an optical combiner configured combine the first optical signal portion at the first signal level and the second optical signal portion at the second signal level to impart a target chirp onto the recombined optical signal. The target chirp is based on a signal level difference between the first signal level and the second signal level.

Abstract: A liquid ejection device includes: a head unit having at least one nozzle and configured to eject a liquid containing a solvent and a cleaning agent from the nozzle; and a liquid transport tube configured to transport the liquid to the head unit. A content of the cleaning agent in the liquid is 1% by weight or more. The liquid is ejected from the head unit in a continuous flow, and the continuous flow is converted into droplets to collide with the object in a form of droplets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vinyl alcohol polymer having properties comparable to the properties of vinyl alcohol polymers of solely petroleum origin, and, in using the vinyl alcohol polymer (PVA), saves petroleum resources, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions in production processes. The present invention relates to a vinyl alcohol polymer (X) obtained through saponification after polymerization of a plant-derived vinyl ester monomer (A) and a petroleum-derived vinyl ester monomer (B), and having a mole ratio (A)/(B) of 5/95 to 100/0.

Abstract: An optical module includes a plurality of lasers, each of at least some of the lasers configured to be selectively turned on and turned off depending on a type of modulation to be used. Each laser corresponds to a respective wavelength. The optical module also includes an optical modulation system having a plurality of optical modulators. A reconfigurable optical network of the optical module is configured to selectively direct light from the plurality of lasers to the optical modulation system differently depending on the type of modulation to be used.

Abstract: Disclosed are particulate polyvinyl alcohol-based compositions for use in manufacturing chemical materials and in other industrial operations, and for treatments applied to a subterranean formation traversed by the borehole of an oil or gas well, which compositions are prepared by granulating polyvinyl alcohol polymers, and admixing the granules so produced with powder and/or crushing the granules to a specified particle size distribution.

Abstract: A tunable laser for a transceiver includes a silicon photonics substrate, first and second patterned regions each being defined in the substrate a step lower than a flat surface region of the substrate, first and second laser diode chips arranged in the first and second patterned regions, the patterned regions being configured to align the gain regions of the first and second laser diode chips with integrated couplers formed in the substrate adjacent to the first and second patterned regions to facilitate flip-bonding the first and second laser diode chips within the patterned regions, and a tuning filter coupled to the first laser diode chip and the second laser diode chip via the integrated couplers. The tuning filter is configured to receive laser light from each of the first and second laser diode chips and generate a laser output having a gain determined by each of the gain regions.

Abstract: An optical modulator includes a semiconductor substrate and an optical waveguide portion disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A signal contact that extends alongside the optical waveguide portion is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A first ground line is disposed on the semiconductor substrate spaced away from the signal contact by a first spacing. A second ground line is disposed on the semiconductor substrate spaced away from the signal contact by a second spacing opposite the first ground line. The first spacing is different from the second spacing.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector, a positive electrode active material layer on a part of a surface of the positive electrode current collector containing a positive electrode active material, and an insulating layer on other parts of the surface of the positive electrode current collector containing an inorganic filler. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector, and a negative electrode active material layer on a part of a surface of the negative electrode current collector containing a negative electrode active material.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving optical signals transmitted over a communications network includes a silicon photonics substrate including multiple regions with respectively different doping, an epitaxial germanium layer extending at least partially over at least two or more of regions with different doping, and at least one of a tensile stressor component and a compressive stressor component in contact with the epitaxial germanium layer. The tensile stressor component and the compressive stressor component are respectively configured to mechanically strain the epitaxial germanium layer to modify an optical signal absorption attribute of the epitaxial germanium layer. The receiver includes a receive circuit including at least one electrode component in electrical contact with the epitaxial germanium layer. The receive circuit is configured to generate an electrical output in response to an optical signal received from a network interface of the communications network by the epitaxial germanium layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer extending in a first direction; a gate electrode layer containing at least one element selected from a group consisting of molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), ruthenium (Ru), and cobalt (Co); a first insulating layer provided between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode layer; a charge storage layer provided between the first insulating layer and the gate electrode layer; a second insulating layer provided between the charge storage layer and the gate electrode layer; a third insulating layer provided between the second insulating layer and the gate electrode layer; and a metal oxide layer provided between the third insulating layer and the gate electrode layer and containing at least one first metal element selected from a group consisting of titanium (Ti), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), and tantalum (Ta).

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) includes photonic components fabricated on the PIC. One of the photonic components includes an optical coupler configured to optically couple to an optical component. The optical coupler includes waveguide elements arranged in a 2-Dimensional array that is configured to provide a first mode having a first shape chosen to match a second shape of a second mode of the optical component.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting an optical data signal includes a photonics substrate and first and second photodiodes formed in the photonics substrate. The first photodiode is configured to receive, via an input port formed in the photonics substrate, a first portion of the optical data signal and convert light power of the first portion of the optical data signal to generate a first current based on the optical data signal. The second photodiode is configured to output a second current without receiving any portion of the optical data signal. The second current corresponds to a dark current induced in the second photodiode. The circuit is configured to subtract the second current from the first current to generate an output signal corresponding to a power of the optical data signal without dark current induced in the first photodiode.

Abstract: A display control device includes a processor. The processor acquires a vehicle state, and displays, at spatial coordinates set above an instrument panel in a vehicle cabin, a predetermined icon corresponding to the vehicle state via a lens that is able to be attached to an eyeball of an occupant. Thus, the occupant can grasp the vehicle state without having the vehicle condition displayed on a display in a vehicle cabin.

Abstract: A switch status detection device includes a power source, a first resistor, a first switch, a control device, and a first capacitor. The first resistor has one end connected to the power source. The first switch is configured to switch between a connected state and a disconnected state of a first contact point, provided on a first current path between the other end of the first resistor and ground. The control device detects an on/off status of the first switch, on a basis of a voltage at the other end of the first resistor. The first capacitor has one end connected to the first contact point at a position on the first current path on a side of the first resistor with respect to the first contact point, and the other end connected to the power source or the ground.

Abstract: [Problem to be solved] To provide a traceable vinyl acetate, a polymer containing the vinyl acetate, and a vinyl alcohol polymer which is a saponified product of the polymer. [Solution] Vinyl acetate having a ratio of carbon-14 to total carbon of 1.0×10?4 or more, a vinyl acetate polymer containing the vinyl acetate as a monomer unit and a vinyl alcohol polymer obtained by saponifying the vinyl acetate polymer.

Abstract: A silicon optical modulator includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate and a first waveguide and a second waveguide arranged parallel to each other in the silicon-on-insulator substrate. The first waveguide includes a first PN junction. The second waveguide includes a second PN junction. At least one of the first PN junction and the second PN junction is disposed at an interface between a P type doped region and a N type doped region. The interface has an irregular shape that is not perpendicular to a plane in which the silicon-on-insulator substrate lies.