Abstract: Disclosed is a gravity corrected scale comprising: a weight measuring unit; an audio correction signal receiver; a gravity correction relevant value converter; a gravity correction relevant value storage unit; and a corrected weight value calculation unit. According to the present invention the weight measuring unit provides a weight value by measuring an object to be measured, the audio correction signal receiver receives an audio gravity correction signal, and the gravity correction relevant value converter converts the audio gravity correction signal received by said audio correction signal receiver into a gravity correction relevant value. Furthermore, the gravity correction relevant value storage unit stores the gravity correction relevant value converted by said gravity correction relevant value converter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape drive apparatus enabled to directly and accurately detect dew condensation on a rotary head drum. Tape serving as a recording medium is drawn out of a cartridge. The drawn tape runs in such a way as to be wound on a tape takeup reel provided in a tape drive apparatus body. Signals are recorded on and reproduced from the tape by winding the drawn tape around the rotary head drum. This tape drive apparatus has a prethreading mechanism that brings the tape into slight contact with the rotary head drum before the tape is completely wound therearound. Dew condensation on the rotary head drum is detected by rotating the rotary head drum during a status in which the tape is brought by the prethreading mechanism into contact with the rotary head drum.

Abstract: A method of designing a chemical amplification type photosensitive composition containing an acid generating agent, wherein the average distance between exposure particles in an exposure area of the photosensitive composition upon pattern exposure of the photosensitive composition or the average distance between the acids generated by the pattern exposure is calculated based on the sensitivity required of the photosensitive composition, and the composition of the photosensitive composition is set so that the diffusion length of the acid generated from the acid generating agent by the pattern exposure is greater than the calculated average distance.

Abstract: To provide a mask able to reduce the thickness of a membrane and maintain the mask strength and a method of producing a semiconductor device able to form a fine pattern with a high accuracy and a method of producing the mask. A mask comprising a thin film, holes formed at the thin film through which a charged particle beam (preferably an electron beam) passes, a support layer formed at one side of the thin film, and apertures formed at a larger size than the holes at least at portions of said holes of said support layer and a method of producing the same and a method of producing a semiconductor device including a lithography step using the same.

Abstract: A method of lithography capable of optimizing its process condition more simply and precisely based on a limited number of experiments is provided. A line edge roughness of a resist pattern is obtained as a characteristic value for evaluation. The resist pattern is formed in an orthogonal experiment based on an orthogonal table that includes significant factors, which define a process condition of its lithography. Reference level (benchmark) values are set for each factor in the orthogonal experiment, from which an appropriate reference level value which minimizes the edge roughness is selected as a process condition for proceeding with the lithography.

Abstract: A mask for fabrication of semiconductor devices in which the membrane layer keeps high strength and is free of stress and distortion even though it is made thin. The mask has a membrane-supporting layer at the peripheral part of the mask pattern or the mask pattern region in the membrane layer constituting the mask.

Abstract: A method of designing a chemical amplification type photosensitive composition containing an acid generating agent, wherein the average distance between exposure particles in an exposure area of the photosensitive composition upon pattern exposure of the photosensitive composition or the average distance between the acids generated by the pattern exposure is calculated based on the sensitivity required of the photosensitive composition, and the composition of the photosensitive composition is so set that the diffusion length of the acid generated from the acid generating agent by the pattern exposure is greater than the calculated average distance.

Abstract: A method of lithography capable of optimizing its process condition more simply and precisely based on a limited number of experiments is provided. A line edge roughness of a resist pattern is obtained as a characteristic value for evaluation. The resist pattern is formed in an orthogonal experiment based on an orthogonal table that includes significant factors, which define a process condition of its lithography. Reference level (benchmark) values are set for each factor in the orthogonal experiment, from which an appropriate reference level value which minimizes the edge roughness is selected as a process condition for proceeding the lithography.

Abstract: A method of authentication capable of avoiding an easy copying of a module used for personal authentication of an IC card or the like and thereby raising the reliability of the personal authentication, comprising having an electronic circuit having a hardware configuration corresponding to a predetermined authentication processing provided in an IC of an IC card carry out authentication processing using a PIN and data generated at an authentication apparatus at random and having the authentication apparatus similarly carry out the authentication processing, compare the processing result received from the IC card and the processing result obtained by itself, and, when they coincide, authenticating the user of the IC card as the legitimate user.

Abstract: To set a bet number according to an intention of a player, there is provided one bet switch 12 for a player to designate a desired bet number N. A game machine is provided in its body with a control unit 23 for setting the bet number N designated by the player by detecting whether or not the bet switch 12 has been operated. This control unit 23 sets the bet number N to a maximum allowable bet number “Kmax” when the bet switch 12 is operated one time prior to the start of each game. After this, each time the bet switch 12 is operated, the maximum allowable bet number “Kmax” is subtracted by 1, and this difference is set as the bet number N. Each time the operation number of the bet switch 12 reaches a predetermined value, the maximum allowable bet number is again set to “Kmax”. By repeating the subtraction of the bet number N by 1 each time the bet switch 12 is operated, moreover, the bet number N is set within a range of the maximum allowable bet number “Kmax”.

Abstract: A tape tension control apparatus for controlling tape tension by supplying a current to a reel motor for driving a reel in accordance with a diameter of a tape roll includes a rotational speed detector for detecting the rotational speed of the tape roll a; rotational speed comparator for comparing a rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detector and a standard rotational speed corresponding to the diameter of the tape roll; and a current corrector for correcting the value of the current supplied to the reel motor in accordance with a comparison result from the rotational speed comparator in such a manner that the speed of rotation of the reel motor becomes equal to the standard rotational speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroreflective sheeting comprising:a base retroreflective sheeting having a flat front face layer at the light-incident side, anda fluorine-contained resin film having a total light transmittance of at least 80%, laminated on the flat front face layer of the base retroreflective sheeting via an adhesive layer.This retroreflective sheeting is low in extent of freezing or snow sticking on the surface when used in cold districts, and shows excellent stain removability even for the stain made on the surface by mischief with a paint, an ink or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing retroreflective sheeting useful for marking or the like of signs such as road signs and construction signs; number plates of vehicles such as motorcars and motorcycles; materials for safety such as clothes and life jackets; signboards, etc.

Abstract: A method for making retroreflective sheeting comprising the steps of placing a light-transmittable protective film on glass beads in a support sheet which consists of a binder layer and a reinforcing layer, and which is provided with retroreflective glass beads embedded in the binder layer, and thermoforming parts of the support sheet under heating and pressure so as to partially bond the binder layer of the support sheet to the protective film, which is characterized in that the reinforcing layer of the support sheet consists of a crosslinkable resin having shearing stress S in the range of 6.times.10.sup.6 -1.2.times.10.sup.7 dyne/cm.sup.2 before the thermoforming. A retroreflective sheeting made by this method has a high uniformity of the joint portions of the support sheet and protective film. Even when this retroreflective sheeting is used outdoors for a long period of time, troubles including peeling-off of the protective film do not substantially occur.

Abstract: A tape tension control apparatus for controlling tape tension by supplying a current to a reel motor for driving a reel in accordance with a diameter of a tape roll includes a: rotational speed detect or for detecting the rotational speed of the tape roll; a rotational speed comparator for comparing a rotational speed detected by the rotational speed detector and a standard rotational speed corresponding to the diameter of the tape roll; and a current correct or for correcting the value of the current supplied to the reel motor in accordance with a comparison result from the rotational speed comparator in such a manner that the speed of rotation of the reel motor becomes equal to the standard rotational speed.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting having excellent weatherability under prolonged outdoor use, which comprises a support sheet in one side of which retroreflective glass beads are embedded as substantially a monolayer in such a manner that at least their non-reflective portions are exposed on said sheet; and a light-transmittable protective film provided on the glass beads on said support sheet, said protective film being partially fixed onto the support sheet; in which at least the surface layer of the support sheet in which the glass beads are embedded is formed of a resin composition comprising (a) thermofusible resin(s) having a glass transition temperature not higher than 50.degree. C. and (a) cellulose derivative(s) having a glass transition temperature not lower than 90.degree. C.