Abstract: A positive resist composition comprises (A) a resin component which becomes soluble in an alkaline developer under the action of an acid and (B) an acid generator. The resin (A) is a polymer comprising specific recurring units. When processed by ArF lithography, the composition is improved in resolution and forms a pattern with a minimal line edge roughness.

Abstract: A positive resist composition comprises (A) a resin component which becomes soluble in an alkaline developer under the action of an acid and (B) an acid generator. The resin (A) is a polymer comprising specific recurring units. When processed by ArF lithography, the composition is improved in resolution and forms a contact hole pattern with a satisfactory mask fidelity, sphericity and rectangularity.

Abstract: Provided are sulfonyldiazomethane compounds and photoacid generators suited for resist materials which generate less foreign matters after application, development and peeling, and in particular, are excellent in the pattern profile after the development; and resist materials and patterning process using them. Provided are sulfonyldiazomethane compounds represented by formula (1): Also provides are photoacid generators containing the sulfonyldiazomethane compounds, and a chemical amplification resist material comprising (A) a resin which changes its solubility in an alkali developer by action of an acid, and (B) a sulfonyldiazomethane compound of formula (1) capable of generating an acid by exposure to radiation. Provided is a patterning process comprising steps of applying the above-described resist material onto a substrate to form a coating, heating the coating, exposing the coating, and developing the exposed coating in a developer after an optional heat treatment.

Abstract: A protection method for preventing battery cells from over-discharging and being overcharged, a control circuit, and a battery unit are provided. In the protection method, when a set signal “1” is supplied to a set terminal, a flip-flop outputs “1”. The gate of a discharge control FET then becomes “1”, so that the discharge control FET is OFF regardless of a discharge control signal supplied from a voltage monitor circuit. When a reset signal “1” is supplied to a reset terminal, the flip-flop outputs “0”. The discharge control FET is then switched on and off in accordance with the output of a discharge control circuit of the voltage monitor circuit. In this manner, battery cells connected to an electronic device do not over-discharge, even when they are left unused for a long period of time. Thus, the battery unit can be prevented from deteriorating and shortening the life thereof.

Abstract: An image forming method includes a first process for outputting a first image from a first output device, using a group of 1 bit data of respective dots of an area coverage modulation image, and a second process for outputting another image from another output device with an output method different from an output method for the first output device, using the group, wherein the second process includes a halftone-dot percentage adjusting step of adjusting a halftone-dot percentage of a halftone-dot included in the area coverage modulation image, and a color adjusting step of adjusting a color of each dot of the halftone-dot, the other image being approximated to the first image.

Abstract: A power supply control circuit connectable with an input power monitor that monitors an input power value to the power supply, an output power monitor that monitors an output power value from the power supply, and an output power controller that varies the output power value from the power supply, the power supply control circuit having an output power determiner that determines a determined output power value depending on the input power value and a power adjuster that adjusts the output power value to the determined output power value by controlling the output power controller.

Abstract: A sintering compound containing a sinterable powder and a binder removable in a debinding step is injected into a metal mold set provided with a sintering compound injecting mold, in a sintering compound molding step (S104). An add-on forming compound which becomes removable or separable from the sintering compound injection molded body in the debinding step or the sintering step is injected into the metal mold set provided with an add-on mold in an add-on forming step (S102). The sintering compound injection molded body and the add-on are formed integrally with each other in the metal mold set. The integral formation of the add-on and the sintering compound injection molded body enables to prevent damage during release from the mold and make easy to handle the injection molded body.

Abstract: A remaining charge predicting method which improves the precision of predicting the remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. A battery pack has a measuring circuit which monitors a charge current, discharge current, the voltage of the rechargeable battery and the temperature of the battery. The measuring circuit notifies a power management microcomputer, provided in a portable device, of the measured current, voltage and temperature. The power management microcomputer predicts the remaining charge of the battery based on the received measured values. The battery pack does not perform data processing for predicting the remaining charge.

Abstract: A protection method for preventing battery cells from over-discharging and being overcharged, a control circuit, and a battery unit are provided. In the protection method, when a set signal “1” is supplied to a set terminal, a flip-flop outputs “1”. The gate of a discharge control FET then becomes “1”, so that the discharge control FET is OFF regardless of a discharge control signal supplied from a voltage monitor circuit. When a reset signal “1” is supplied to a reset terminal, the flip-flop outputs “0”. The discharge control FET is then switched on and off in accordance with the output of a discharge control circuit of the voltage monitor circuit. In this manner, battery cells connected to an electronic device do not over-discharge, even when they are left unused for a long period of time. Thus, the battery unit can be prevented from deteriorating and shortening the life thereof.

Abstract: Provided are sulfonyldiazomethane compounds and photoacid generators suited for resist materials which generate less foreign matters after application, development and peeling, and in particular, are excellent in the pattern profile after the development; and resist materials and patterning process using them. Provided are sulfonyldiazomethane compounds represented by formula (1): Also provides are photoacid generators containing the sulfonyldiazomethane compounds, and a chemical amplification resist material comprising (A) a resin which changes its solubility in an alkali developer by action of an acid, and (B) a sulfonyldiazomethane compound of formula (1) capable of generating an acid by exposure to radiation. Provided is a patterning process comprising steps of applying the above-described resist material onto a substrate to form a coating, heating the coating, exposing the coating, and developing the exposed coating in a developer after an optional heat treatment.

Abstract: A power supply control circuit connectable with an input power monitor that monitors an input power value to the power supply, an output power monitor that monitors an output power value from the power supply, and an output power controller that varies the output power value from the power supply, the power supply control circuit having an output power determiner that determines a determined output power value depending on the input power value and a power adjuster that adjusts the output power value to the determined output power value by controlling the output power controller.

Abstract: A power supply control method is adapted to a current-to-voltage conversion circuit which has a transformer for converting and outputting an input power. The power supply control method stops a power supply to the transformer when an output side of the current-to-voltage conversion circuit is in a no-load state, and starts a power supply to the transformer when an external voltage is applied to the output side of the current-to-voltage conversion circuit.

Abstract: A power supply circuit, a charger, a charging control circuit, an information processing device and a battery pack are provided which is capable of decreasing electric current detection resistors at a charger side thereby to achieve improvements in the charging efficiency of a power supply circuit or the like as well as reduction in cost and size. A charging current flows in a current sensing resistor RS arranged in a battery pack 4A upon charging thereof. A charging control circuit 8A detects the charging current by detecting a voltage across opposite ends of the current sensing resistor RS, and controls the charging current by using the detection value thereof in such a manner that the charging current is in a prescribed range. As a result, the number of current detection resistors, which are employed in one closed circuit formed in a power supply circuit 1A upon charging, can be made one.

Abstract: When starting charging of an internal battery as a result of connection of an external power source by an AC adapter, a charging control unit sets a first charging voltage at which the charging capacity of the internal battery is maximized. When starting the charging from recognition of reduced capacity of the internal battery due to its self-discharge in desk-top use where the AC adapter is in connection at all times, the charging control unit sets a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage to prevent the battery from degrading.

Abstract: A power supply control circuit connectable with an input power monitor that monitors an input power value to the power supply, an output power monitor that monitors an output power value from the power supply, and an output power controller that varies the output power value from the power supply, the power supply control circuit having an output power determiner that determines a determined output power value depending on the input power value and a power adjuster that adjusts the output power value to the determined output power value by controlling the output power controller.

Abstract: A remaining charge predicting method which improves the precision of predicting the remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. A battery pack has a measuring circuit which monitors a charge current, discharge current, the voltage of the rechargeable battery and the temperature of the battery. The measuring circuit notifies a power management microcomputer, provided in a portable device, of the measured current, voltage and temperature. The power management microcomputer predicts the remaining charge of the battery based on the received measured values. The battery pack does not perform data processing for predicting the remaining charge.

Abstract: A protection method for preventing battery cells from over-discharging and being overcharged, a control circuit, and a battery unit are provided. In the protection method, when a set signal “1” is supplied to a set terminal, a flip-flop outputs “1”. The gate of a discharge control FET then becomes “1”, so that the discharge control FET is OFF regardless of a discharge control signal supplied from a voltage monitor circuit. When a reset signal “1” is supplied to a reset terminal, the flip-flop outputs “0”. The discharge control FET is then switched on and off in accordance with the output of a discharge control circuit of the voltage monitor circuit. In this manner, battery cells connected to an electronic device do not over-discharge, even when they are left unused for a long period of time. Thus, the battery unit can be prevented from deteriorating and shortening the life thereof.

Abstract: A protection method for preventing battery cells from over-discharging and being overcharged, a control circuit, and a battery unit are provided. In the protection method, when a set signal “1” is supplied to a set terminal, a flip-flop outputs “1”. The gate of a discharge control FET then becomes “1”, so that the discharge control FET is OFF regardless of a discharge control signal supplied from a voltage monitor circuit. When a reset signal “1” is supplied to a reset terminal, the flip-flop outputs +0”. The discharge control FET is then switched on and off in accordance with the output of a discharge control circuit of the voltage monitor circuit. In this manner, battery cells connected to an electronic device do not over-discharge, even when they are left unused for a long period of time. Thus, the battery unit can be prevented from deteriorating and shortening the life thereof.

Abstract: The followings are disclosed herein: a biomaterial comprising calcium phosphate and a copolymer of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone; a biomaterial for the induction of osteoanagenesis, characterized in that a periosteum is attached to the biomaterial comprising calcium phosphate and a copolymer of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone; and a biomaterial for the prevention of adhesion comprising calcium phosphate and a copolymer of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone where the molar ratio of lactic acid, glycolic acid and &egr;-caprolactone is within a range of 5-90:3-75:5-40.

Abstract: When starting charging of an internal battery as a result of connection of an external power source by an AC adapter, a charging control unit sets a first charging voltage at which the charging capacity of the internal battery is maximized. When starting the charging from recognition of reduced capacity of the internal battery due to its self-discharge in desk-top use where the AC adapter is in connection at all times, the charging control unit sets a second charging voltage lower than the first charging voltage to prevent the battery from degrading.