Abstract: The intensity of light of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to the type of a protective tape joined to the surface of a semiconductor wafer is adjusted by a controller, and a holding stage for holding the semiconductor wafer is scanned rotationally. At this time, at a V notch portion for positioning formed in the semiconductor wafer, light is transmitted through the protective sheet covering the surface, which is received by a photoreception sensor. Based on the change in the reception amount of light in the photoreception sensor, the position of a detection site is specified.

Abstract: A medical information system includes a measurement unit that measures at least the positions of medical instruments and biomedical information, a medical act identification unit that decides the types of performed medical acts and the time instants of performance, at which the medical acts are performed, on the basis of the measured positions of the medical instruments and the measured biomedical information, and a medical stage identification unit that decides the types of medical stages, into which a flow of steps starting with a step of preparing for surgery and ending with a step of completing the surgery is divided in terms of the purpose of work, and the time instants of the medical stages on the basis of the decided types of medical acts, the decided time instants of performance, the other types of medical stages that have already been decided, and the time instants of the other types of medical stages that have already been decided.

Abstract: A medical image diagnostic apparatus includes: a screen saver shape storing unit that stores shapes of a screen saver for respective execution states of an application; a screen saver activation event detecting unit that detects an event serving as an activation condition for the screen saver; an application execution state detecting unit that detects an execution state of the application; a screen saver screen creating unit that reads a shape of the screen saver corresponding to the execution state of the application from the screen saver shape storing unit and creates screen saver image information; and a screen saver managing unit that receives notification indicating that the event serving as the activation condition for the screen saver is detected and requests detection of the execution state of the application and, on the other hand, give the application execution state information to the screen saver screen creating unit to request creation of the screen saver image information.

Abstract: A scanning method for a scanning electron microscope is provided which minimizes a degradation in dimension measuring accuracy caused by a shrink of a specimen. A time between the first and the second scan over the same location on the specimen is shortened by changing the scanning order of scan lines to enable the scanning to be performed successively while the shrink is small.

Abstract: A viscosity modifier for lubricating oils or an additive composition for lubricating oils, which is excellent in oil-thickening properties and can provide lubricating oil compositions excellent in low-temperature characteristics and handleability at low temperatures; and lubricating oil compositions excellent in low-temperature characteristics and handleability at low temperatures.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an apparatus, a system and a method for transmitting a FM batch converted signal and another signal on the same optical fiber can be provided. For example, a first signal such as CATV signal may be FM converted in batch. This converted signal may then be frequency-multiplexed with a second signal such as BS/CS satellite broadcasting RF signal to transmit over optical fiber as an optical signal. The optical signal transmitted via the optical fiber is photoelectrically converted by a single photo-receiving element and is frequency-separated by a filter after passing through a preamplifier. The frequency-separated, FM batch converted signal is FM-demodulated and restored to the first signal, and the frequency-separated second signal is converted to an IF signal by a BS/CS converter. With appropriate setting of the center frequency of the FM batch converted signal, the influence by spurious interference can be minimized.

Abstract: In an optical transmission system by frequency-division multiplexing, the interference due to distortions of a first signal against a second signal can be reduced. In the optical transmission system where a modulated optical signal by the first signal is further modulated with the second signal for transmission, distortions of the first signal corresponding to a frequency band of the second signal is extracted. The extracted signal is phase-inverted and then adjusted in phase and amplitude with respect to the distortions of the first signal to obtain a correction signal. By intensity-modulating the first signal containing the distortions by the correction signal, the distortions of the first signal against the second signal can be cancelled out. Alternatively, by intensity-modulating the first signal containing the distortions by a combined signal of the correction signal and the second signal, the distortions of the first signal against the second signal can be cancelled out.

Abstract: A plasma display panel driving circuit for driving a plasma display panel which has a plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes and operates as a capacitive load, by applying a different waveform in each of a reset period, address period and sustain period, includes a voltage multiplying circuit having a first input terminal to which 0 or a first voltage is inputted and a second input terminal to which a second voltage that is smaller than the first voltage is inputted. The voltage multiplying circuit is operable to generate a voltage prepared by adding the second voltage to a voltage equivalent to integral multiple of the first voltage.

Abstract: A reading apparatus and method for reading data from a digital versatile disc includes a specification section configured to specify a predetermined position of content. A controller generates information indicating a predetermined portion from a position specified by the specification section. A storage section reads the predetermined portion from the digital versatile disc on the basis of the information generated by the generation section and stores the predetermined portion on a storage medium. A reading controller controls reading of data from the storage medium and the digital versatile disc.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method for creating a sample for a TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) observation comprising: forming an observation surface at a specific area of a semiconductor device; forming an amorphous protection film on the observation surface; and thinning a portion of the semiconductor device including at least the protection film.

Abstract: A reading apparatus for reading data from a digital versatile disc (DVD) generates information indicating a plurality of predetermined portions of content stored on the digital versatile disc, based on navigation information of the DVD on which the content is recorded. A storage reads the predetermined portions from the DVD based on the generated information and stores the predetermined portions on a storage medium. A reading control section controls reading of data from the DVD and the storage medium so that the data of the predetermined portions stored on the storage medium is read and data subsequent to the data read from the storage medium is read from the DVD if reading of the data of the content is requested.

Abstract: A light source emits light toward a semiconductor wafer, and a light receiving sensor detects light passing a peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer. Each coordinates of the peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer is obtained from a result of the detection. Further, a center of the semiconductor wafer is obtained from a group of the coordinates. Then, an illumination device emits light toward the peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer and an optical camera detects light reflected from the peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer. A position of a “V”-shaped notch formed on the peripheral edge of the semiconductor wafer is obtained from a result of the detection. A handling position of the semiconductor wafer is determined based on the center of the semiconductor wafer and the position of the “V”-shaped notch.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device comprises: a semiconductor element having a first surface and a second surface, with the first and second surfaces being on first and second sides of the semiconductor element, respectively, and facing in opposite directions; a first electrode on the first surface; a second electrode on the second surface; a first circuit board electrically connected to the first electrode via a metallic plate such that the metallic plate and the semiconductor element are on the first circuit board; a second circuit board on the second side of the semiconductor element, the second circuit board having a control circuit for the semiconductor element; and a metallic wire for directly electrically interconnecting the second electrode and the second circuit board.

Abstract: An impurity is ion-implanted with a silicon nitride film formed on a silicon substrate as a mask film to form a source/drain layer of a MOS transistor. Heat treatment for activating the impurity is done as it is without removing the silicon nitride film to thereby produce heat treatment-based stress between the silicon nitride film and the silicon substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a plasma display panel in which a plurality of pairs of display electrodes extending in a row direction are disposed on a surface of a first substrate and a plurality of discharge cells are formed along each pair of display electrodes, wherein, at least within each discharge cell, each display electrode of the pair of display electrodes comprises a bus line and a band-shaped electrode member that is electrically connected to the bus line, the band-shaped electrode member extending in the row direction and being disposed at least mainly on a same side of the bus line as a gap between the pair of display electrodes, and each band-shaped electrode member has at least one cut-out formed from a gap-side edge towards the bus line, each cut-out having a length that is shorter than a distance between the gap-side edge and the bus line.

Abstract: A reflector member of the present invention includes a silver thin film formed on a substrate and a silicon nitride protection film formed on the silver thin film. The silver thin film has the (111) orientation as the principal plane orientation. Preferably, 99% or more of the silver thin film has the (111) orientation as the principal plane orientation. The thickness of the silver thin film is in a range of 100 nm to 350 nm.

Abstract: A plasma display panel in which a plurality of pairs of display electrodes extending in a row direction are aligned on a surface of a first substrate, a plurality of address electrodes extending in a column direction are disposed in a stripe pattern on a surface of a second substrate, the first and second substrates are disposed opposite each other so that the pairs of display electrodes and the address electrodes cross over sandwiching discharge space therebetween, and a discharge cell is formed corresponding to each crossover portion. The pairs of display electrodes are composed of a metallic material, each display electrode of each pair of display electrodes includes a base part extending in the row direction and a plurality of opposing parts extending from the base part into a discharge interval between the each pair of display electrodes.

Abstract: A scanning method for a scanning electron microscope is provided which minimizes a degradation in dimension measuring accuracy caused by a shrink of a specimen. A time between the first and the second scan over the same location on the specimen is shortened by changing the scanning order of scan lines to enable the scanning to be performed successively while the shrink is small.

Abstract: The intensity of light of a predetermined wavelength corresponding to the type of a protective tape joined to the surface of a semiconductor wafer is adjusted by a controller, and a holding stage for holding the semiconductor wafer is scanned rotationally. At this time, at a V notch portion for positioning formed in the semiconductor wafer, light is transmitted through the protective sheet covering the surface, which is received by a photoreception sensor. Based on the change in the reception amount of light in the photoreception sensor, the position of a detection site is specified.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition having excellent low temperature viscosity properties suitable for engine oils for automobiles and industries, gear oils, shock absorber oils, hydraulic fluids and it also provides a lubricating oil for internal-combustion engines formed from the composition. The lubricating oil composition comprises; a lubricating oil base (A) having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 1 to 50 mm2/s and a viscosity index of not less than 80, an ethylene•propylene copolymer (B) having the following properties (B1) to (B4) such that (B1) the ethylene content is from 30 to 75% by weight, (B2) the intrinsic viscosity [?] is from 1.3 to 2.0 dl/g, (B3) the Mw/Mn is not more than 2.4 and (B4) the melting point as measured with DSC is not higher than 30° C., and optionally a pour point depressant (C).