Abstract: Disclosed is a switching valve having a small contact resistance when a valve body moves along a seating surface of a housing. In a switching valve which includes a valve body, coming into contact with a seating surface of a housing having a plurality of ports and selectively communicating at least two ports of the plurality of ports, and applies a fluid pressure to a back surface of the valve body, the switching valve includes a biasing member configured for biasing the valve body in a direction in which the valve body is moved away from the seating surface of the housing.

Abstract: An electrode body including a current collector and an electrode layer that includes layers in the order of a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer from the current collector side in a thickness direction. The first electrode layer includes an end surface A, and the second electrode layer includes an end surface B. In a cross-sectional view in the thickness direction, the end surface A includes an end part A1 in the current collector side, and an end part A2 in the second electrode layer side, and the end surface B includes an end part B1 in the first electrode layer side, and an end part B2 in an opposite side to the first electrode layer; the end surface A includes, in a vertical direction to the thickness direction, and a first inclination part in which the end part A1 protrudes form the end part A2.

Abstract: Provided is an optical lens formed by integrally molding a lens part that is an optically effective portion and has a light incidence/emission surface, and a lens edge part that is an optically ineffective portion and has a surface thereof except the light incidence/emission surface. The lens edge part includes a non-transparent region in part or all thereof, the lens part and the lens edge part include a thermoplastic resin, and the non-transparent region in the lens edge part contains a total of 0.1-5 mass % of one or more of a black dye and a black pigment.

Abstract: A polycarbonate resin having a high refractive index, a low Abbe number and a high moisture and heat resistance is provided. In an embodiment, a polycarbonate resin including a structural unit represented by general formula (1) below is provided.

Abstract: A production device of an electrode member to be used for a battery, the production device including: a backup roll configured to support a current collector to be carried; a first die configured to form a first coating layer by coating the current collector on the backup roll with a first slurry; and a second die configured to form a second coating layer by coating the first coating layer on the backup roll with a second slurry, wherein each of the first die and the second die are independent; and when horizontal direction is regarded as a reference 0°, perpendicular downward is regarded as +90°, and perpendicular upward is regarded as ?90°, a discharge angle of the second slurry in the second die is ?90° or more and +60° or less.

Abstract: In a breaking operation, a substrate is moved so that a blade can be situated in line with a scribe line, and the blade is lowered to break the substrate. After the breaking, the blade is raised. Then, the substrate is moved along its surface while taking an image of the substrate by using a camera after the breaking. Moreover, the blade is lowered to break the substrate. After the breaking, the blade is raised. Then, the substrate is moved along its surface while performing image processing concurrently. After the movement of the substrate, the position of the substrate is corrected so that the following scribe line to be cut for breaking can be situated immediately below the blade. In this way, the time required for breaking the substrate formed with a multiplicity of scribe lines into pieces can be shortened.

Abstract: In a breaking operation, a substrate is moved so that a blade can be situated in line with a scribe line, and the blade is lowered to break the substrate. After the breaking, the blade is raised. Then, the substrate is moved along its surface while taking an image of the substrate by using a camera after the breaking. Moreover, the blade is lowered to break the substrate. After the breaking, the blade is raised. Then, the substrate is moved along its surface while performing image processing concurrently. After the movement of the substrate, the position of the substrate is corrected so that the following scribe line to be cut for breaking can be situated immediately below the blade. In this way, the time required for breaking the substrate formed with a multiplicity of scribe lines into pieces can be shortened.

Abstract: A film thickness measurement apparatus has an image pickup part (32) for acquiring a plurality of single-band images corresponding to a plurality of wavelengths, and the image pickup part (32) acquires a plurality of reference single-band images representing a pattern on a reference substrate. A correction factor setting part (51) performs setting of a plurality of correction factors in accordance with distances from a specified pixel by using a plurality of reference single-band images. Subsequently, the image pickup part (32) acquires a plurality of measurement single-band images representing a pattern on an objective substrate and corrects a value of the specified pixel for each of a plurality of measurement single-band images by using the value of the specified pixel and values of pixels surrounding the specified pixel and the correction factors.

Abstract: A brake hose is made by laminating an inner tube rubber layer, lower yarn layer, intermediate rubber layer, upper yarn layer, and cover rubber layer. The rubber material of the inner tube rubber layer and intermediate rubber layer is a blend material in which 40 to 80 wt % is IIR and the remainder is EPDM. The upper yarn is PVA, and the upper yarn is PET, where the tensile strength per unit decitex is at least 6.5 g, and the 2.7 g elongation is 2.6±1%. The brake hose has better water penetration resistance and can be produced by a general purpose method.

Abstract: A brake hose is made by laminating an inner tube rubber layer, lower yarn layer, intermediate rubber layer, upper yarn layer, and cover rubber layer. The rubber material of the inner tube rubber layer and intermediate rubber layer is a blend material in which 40 to 80 wt % is IIR and the remainder is EPDM. The upper yarn is PVA, and the upper yarn is PET, where the tensile strength per unit decitex is at least 6.5 g, and the 2.7 g elongation is 2.6±1%. The brake hose has better water penetration resistance and can be produced by a general purpose method.

Abstract: A film thickness measurement apparatus has an image pickup part (32) for acquiring a plurality of single-band images corresponding to a plurality of wavelengths, and the image pickup part (32) acquires a plurality of reference single-band images representing a pattern on a reference substrate. A correction factor setting part (51) performs setting of a plurality of correction factors in accordance with distances from a specified pixel by using a plurality of reference single-band images. Subsequently, the image pickup part (32) acquires a plurality of measurement single-band images representing a pattern on an objective substrate and corrects a value of the specified pixel for each of a plurality of measurement single-band images by using the value of the specified pixel and values of pixels surrounding the specified pixel and the correction factors.

Abstract: A moving image judging apparatus for displaying an image on a video display monitor. A line sensing camera includes a line sensor having more pixels than a number of vertical scanning lines of the video display monitor, and produces input video signals of images of moving objects by scanning the moving objects using line sensor elements to scan in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the moving objects. A video image processing apparatus converts the input video signals from the line sensing camera into digital image data signals which are stored into a memory sequentially according to a time sequence, then read out for displaying and converted into analog output video signals as output signals. The image processing apparatus includes a memory for storage purpose having a first memory area for the digital image data signals to be stored sequentially according to the time sequence and a second memory area for information data concerning the digital image data signals.

Abstract: Light in an ultraviolet region is applied to a first sample of single-crystalline silicon substrate and a sample of silicon thin film to be evaluated respectively, to obtain wavelength dependency of a ratio (reflection intensity ratio) K(.lambda.) between reflection light intensity values of the samples. A straight line connecting points indicating reflection intensity values at wavelengths 235 nm and 320 nm is obtained to subtract an actual reflection intensity ratio Kr from a virtual reflection intensity ratio Ki provided by the straight line with respect to a wavelength of 270 nm, thereby obtaining an index .DELTA.Ks. In a similar manner, an index .DELTA.Ka is obtained as to a second sample of silicon which is composed of only true amorphous phases. The degree of non-crystallization of the silicon thin film to be obtained is evaluated by comparing the index .DELTA.Ks with the index .DELTA.Ka.

Abstract: Light in the ultraviolet region is applied toward a transparent thin film of an object sample to measure energy of light reflected by the object sample. On the basis of the measured energy value, the thickness of the transparent thin film on the object sample can thus be correctly measured even if the film thickness is not more than 10 nm. In the preferred embodiment, an optical system is included to enable monitoring of a position of the thin transparent film. In one aspect of the invention visible light reflected from the transparent film is used to form an image to facilitate such monitoring.

Abstract: Prior to measurement of the thickness dx of a thin film which is formed on a substrate, correlation data between the reflectance Rs of the film for light and the thickness dx thereof is stored in a data memory in the form of a table. A reference sample having a known reflectance Rp is prepared and the energy Ep of light reflected from the reference sample is measured. Also measured is the energy Es of light reflected from an objective sample having the thin film and the substrate. A value of the thickness dx is obtained through the table while setting Y=Rp therein, where y is calculated through a fomula y=(Rp/Ep).multidot.Es.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a very small difference comprises a stage for receiving a sample to be measured, a light source illuminating the sample, an optical system for condensing light reflected from the sample, structure for intercepting a portion of the reflected light, a spectroscope for analyzing the condensed reflected light and a detector for detecting spectrum of the analyzed light. Light reflected only from a main surface of the sample is intercepted by the intercepting structure. Thus, the signal to noise ratio of the reflected light is reduced to enhance measurement capability.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for measuring the thickness of a first thin film which is the uppermost layer of a sample formed by two or more stacked thin films. Light is transmitted through the first thin film but absorbed by a second thin film positioned directly under the first thin film. The spectrum of light reflected by the sample is detected to obtain the thickness of the first thin film.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method are disclosed for measuring the thickness of a very thin transparent film formed, for example, on a photomask or wafer for an integrated circuit. Diffracted reflected light from a film specimen is converted photoelectrically by use of a one dimensional image sensor array and then by an A/D converter having a resolution of more than 2.sup.10, which allows for discrimination into 1,000 graduations of output level. Enhanced precision in determining film thickness is obtained by utilizing this high discrimination to first determine the variations among individual elements of the one dimensional sensor array and compensating for them, as well as by using known averaging and statistical techniques to generate output for comparison to reference data from film specimens of known thickness.

Abstract: A line width measuring device for measuring the line width in an extremely fine pattern formed on a photo-mask or wafer employs a photo-electric converter, including a one-dimensional image sensor array, to convert a magnified image of the pattern into serial output signals storable in digitized form. Compensation and averaging of the stored image element information data are performed in known manner and the results are used to detect pattern edges and hence the line width. In one embodiment the one-dimensional image sensor array can be deviated along the array's axis within the inter-element pitch of the array to enhance the precision of line width measurement.