Abstract: This invention provides carbon composite materials, which comprise metal carbide particles, at least the particle surfaces or the entirety of which are metal carbides, synthesized in situ from a metal source, i.e., at least one member selected from the group comprising metal particles, metal oxide particles, and composite metal oxide particles, and a carbon source, i.e., a thermosetting resin, dispersed in a carbon, carbon fiber, or carbon/carbon fiber matrix, and contain no free metal particles. This invention also provides a method for producing such composite carbon materials, which enables the production of carbon composite materials having a high coefficient of friction, high thermostability, and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A touch roller is pressed to the surface of a sheet being conveyed in a space and the amount of displacement of the touch roller is measured to evaluate the sag of the sheet at the position at which the touch roller is pressed against the sheet. The method enables the sag of a sheet to be accurately evaluated with the use of a device having a relatively simple structure and easily maintained.

Abstract: This invention provides carbon composite materials, which comprise metal carbide particles, at least the particle surfaces or the entirety of which are metal carbides, synthesized in situ from a metal source, i.e., at least one member selected from the group comprising metal particles, metal oxide particles, and composite metal oxide particles, and a carbon source, i.e., a thermosetting resin, dispersed in a carbon, carbon fiber, or carbon/carbon fiber matrix, and contain no free metal particles. This invention also provides a method for producing such composite carbon materials, which enables the production of carbon composite materials having a high coefficient of friction, high thermostability, and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A defect pixel detection apparatus includes an image sensor which includes an effective pixel configured to have a photoelectric conversion element and an output unit configured to output a pixel signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element, a first reference pixel configured to have the same pixel configuration as the effective pixel and be optically shielded, and a second reference pixel configured to have a pixel configuration different from that of the effective pixel, a defect level acquiring unit configured to acquire a defect level of a target pixel in the image sensor, and a defect pixel determination unit configured to determine whether the target pixel is a defect pixel by comparing a defect level of the target pixel with a defect detection threshold according to a type of the pixel.

Abstract: A focal point detection device capable of good focal position detection even when the focus lens is displaced due to impact, and an image capture device. During focal point detection, when focal point detection is impossible, whether AF evaluation values decrease continuously is determined, and whether impact has occurred is detected when decreasing continuously. The focus lens is moved to the initial position when AF evaluation values decrease continuously and impact is detected, as the focus lens is possibly displaced. After the focal point detection is performed again and it is determined whether it is possible to detect the focal point, the focus lens is moved to the focal position when focal point detection is possible, and the focus lens is moved toward the nearside when focal point detection is not possible, on the basis that the photographic subject has been image captured outside of the set image capture range.

Abstract: This invention provides carbon composite materials, which comprise metal carbide particles, at least the particle surfaces or the entirety of which are metal carbides, synthesized in situ from a metal source, i.e., at least one member selected from the group comprising metal particles, metal oxide particles, and composite metal oxide particles, and a carbon source, i.e., a thermosetting resin, dispersed in a carbon, carbon fiber, or carbon/carbon fiber matrix, and contain no free metal particles. This invention also provides a method for producing such composite carbon materials, which enables the production of carbon composite materials having a high coefficient of friction, high thermostability, and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a drive device of an ultrasonic linear motor having a rail (11, 42) and a base body (12, 44) and driving parts (20, 50) interposed between rail and base body. The base body is moved in a straight line with respect to the length direction of the rail by the driving parts. The driving parts are provided on left and right leg parts (12a, 44a) of the base body, and the load of the base body acts almost not at all on the driving part. The driving parts have ultrasonic vibrators (21,52) and rollers (25, 51) rotationally driven by the ultrasonic vibrators. The rollers are urged by urging means (22, 53) toward and into contact with guiding side faces (11b, 11c, 42b, 42c) of the rail, driving forces generated by the driving parts act on the guiding side faces of the rail, and the base body moves in the length direction of the rail.

Abstract: A friction device includes at least one pair of sliding surfaces which are brought into contact with each other. The friction device comprises a friction material containing silicon carbide, and a mate material in which a cermet layer containing tungsten carbide is formed in a sliding surface of the mate material.

Abstract: A process for producing a compound represented by the following formula (II) which comprises treating a compound represented by the following formula (I) (wherein R1, R2 and R3 represent each a specific substituent) with an enzyme capable of asymmetrically hydrolyzing an ester and the novel compound (II).

Abstract: A process for producing a compound represented by the following formula (II) which comprises treating a compound represented by the following formula (I) (wherein R1, R2 and R3 represent each a specific substituent) with an enzyme capable of asymmetrically hydrolyzing an ester and the novel compound (II). The process of the present invention makes it possible to easily obtain an optically active 2-azetidinone derivative in a large amount at a low cost.

Abstract: The invention provides a navigation system that is able to accurately calculate the cost during searching or guiding a route. The navigation controller of the navigation system is comprised of a map buffer that stores various data for displaying maps and searching routes, a route search processor for searching routes, a guide route memory, and a route search memory. When the search key of the remote control unit is pressed, the route search processor makes an intersection network list necessary for a route search between two intersections to store in the route search memory. Further, the route search processor modifies a link cost in the route search memory by replacing it with a statistical cost representing a statistically obtained time that is required for actually passing through the road link, and executes the route search on the basis of the modified cost data.

Abstract: Pressure working on each support mechanism or on a clearance adjusting mechanism disposed on opposite end portions of a knife rotor and a plain rotor while a sheet material being cut is measured. The clearance adjusting mechanism is actuated to adjust the contact pressure of the knife based on the measured pressure.

Abstract: To provide an electron tube having good airtightness and being appropriate for mass production, indium affixed to the inner surface of a sealing metal support member is provided between a side tube and input faceplate. The input faceplate is pushed against the side tube. As a result, the indium is squeezed by a pressure receiving surface provided on the end face of the side tube. Since the pressure receiving surface is in a generally declining shape from the inside out, the force of the pressing surface causes the indium to flow outward toward the sealing metal support member. Therefore, the indium is firmly affixed to the pressure receiving surface, and the side tube and input faceplate can be reliably sealed by the indium.

Abstract: In a rotary cutter, a contact pressure profile can be adjusted by judging or detecting a contact pressure profile of a knife in its longitudinal direction and heating or cooling respective portions of the knife or plain rotor according to the judged or detected contact pressure profile.

Abstract: Crystalline forms of atorvastatin and hydrates thereof are useful hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic agents.

Abstract: A device for conveying a wafer ring between a wafer ring container and a pellet pick-up device. A pair of guide rails which guide both side edges of a wafer ring that is conveyed by a wafer ring conveying assembly are installed pivotally in a vertical direction near the wafer ring cassette. The guide rails are pivoted so as to take a horizontal position when the conveying of the wafer ring is performed and take a vertical position when the pellet pick-up device is in operation. Thus, the operation of the pellet pick-up device is not hindered by the guide rails.

Abstract: When a driver inputs a destination to a vehicle navigation system, a route search unit searches a shortest guided route connecting a starting location as a present location to the destination using map data stored in a CD-ROM and stores the shortest route in a guided route storage unit. When a route preconducting/indicating key is pressed after the search of the guided route, a guided route preconducting unit automatically draws to a video RAM route information composed of a shape of a crossing, a course, names of roads and a name of the crossing sequentially from the starting location for respective crossings where a course changes on the guided route from the present location to the destination, using guided route data stored in the guided route storage unit and the map data stored in the CD-ROM. An image of the video RAM is read out by an image conversion unit, output to a display unit after having been converted into a predetermined image signal, and displayed on a screen.

Abstract: A device for conveying a wafer ring between a wafer ring container and a pellet pick-up device. The wafer ring having a wafer sheet with semiconductor pellets adhered on it is held at its one end by a pair of claws that is equipped with a sensor for detecting the wafer ring held by the claws. After determining the presence of the wafer ring held by the pair of claws, the claws carry the wafer ring onto the pellet pick-up device and then carries the wafer ring back to the wafer ring container. The sensor can be installed on either one of the pair of the claws.

Abstract: A bonding tool used in a bonding apparatus for bonding, for example, pellet and leads of a lead frame including a tool attachment part to which a tool member is mounted. The tool member has four inclined surfaces, and the tool attachment part includes two fixed guide members and two detachable guide members fastened to the tool attachment part by bolts. Inclined surfaces that position two adjacent inclined surfaces of the tool member are formed on the fixed guide members, and inclined surfaces that position the other two inclined surfaces of the tool member are formed on the detachable guide members. The tool member is mounted on and dismounted from the tool attachment part by merely removing the detachable guide members.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing a chip from a bonding stage of a bonding machine via a vacuum suction of a collet upon exceeding a predetermined heating time so as to avoid thermal damage of the chip. The collet which vacuum-chucks the chip is moved vertically and then circularly by means of a combination of a drive shaft, a cam follower and a cylindrical cam holder so that the vacuum-chucked chip can be returned to the bonding stage or be transferred to other places.