Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel section including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and to perform photoelectric conversion, and circuitry to perform reading control on pixels in the pixel section, such that reading control is not performed on at least one pixel included in the pixel section.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a visible imaging sensor, an invisible imaging sensor, and a reduction unit. The first light source irradiates an object with visible light. The second light source irradiates the object with invisible light. The visible imaging sensor reads a visible image of the object. The invisible imaging sensor reads an invisible image of the object. The reduction unit reduces a visible wavelength component of light received by the invisible imaging sensor.

Abstract: A gain modification device (20) includes a plurality of gain modification units (31) whose number of units corresponds to a number of kinds of a plurality of signals input to the plurality of gain modification units, each one of the plurality of gain modification units (31) being configured to modify a gain value used to amplify the plurality of signals, and a plurality of gain reflection control units (44) configured to change a timing at which the gain value is to be switched by the plurality of gain modification units (31) such that the gain value of one of the plurality of signals affecting a signal level of another one of the plurality of signals is switched at a timing different from a timing at which the gain value of the another one of the plurality of signals is switched.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a data writing unit, a channel number converting unit, and a plurality of serial data transferring unit. The data writing unit is configured to write data of m channels into a memory. The channel number converting unit is configured to output the data read from the memory as data of n channels, where m is larger than n. The plurality of serial data transferring unit is configured to transfer the data of the n channels to a processing device in a subsequent stage.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel section including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and to perform photoelectric conversion, and circuitry to perform reading control on pixels in the pixel section, such that reading control is not performed on at least one pixel included in the pixel section.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of processing circuits including a sample and hold circuit, and a timing signal generation circuit that receives a reference clock signal and generates a timing signal to control a timing to operate the sample and hold circuit based on the reference clock signal. The plurality of processing circuits serially execute processing in order from the processing circuit at a preceding stage to the processing circuit at a subsequent stage. The timing signal generation circuit is coupled to the plurality of processing circuits so as to supply the timing signal to each of the plurality of processing circuits in order from the processing circuit at the subsequent stage to the processing circuit at the preceding stage.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of processing circuits including a sample and hold circuit, and a timing signal generation circuit that receives a reference clock signal and generates a timing signal to control a timing to operate the sample and hold circuit based on the reference clock signal. The plurality of processing circuits serially execute processing in order from the processing circuit at a preceding stage to the processing circuit at a subsequent stage. The timing signal generation circuit is coupled to the plurality of processing circuits so as to supply the timing signal to each of the plurality of processing circuits in order from the processing circuit at the subsequent stage to the processing circuit at the preceding stage.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a valid area including pixels that are not shielded from light; a first light-blocked area and a second light-blocked area each including pixels that are shielded from light; an analog-to-digital converting unit to convert the electric charge accumulated by the pixels belonging to the first light-blocked area, the valid area, and the second light-blocked area, to image data at a time; a signal reading unit to read light-blocked data obtained from the first light-blocked area and the second light-blocked area, and valid data obtained from the valid area, in units of pixels; a reference black level estimating unit to estimate a reference black level of the light-blocked data; and a level correction unit to correct, based on the estimated reference black level, a size of the valid data obtained simultaneously with the light-blocked data used in estimating the reference black level.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of arranged imaging elements each including: a light-receiving element configured to generate charge from received light by photoelectric conversion, a floating diffusion configured to convert the charge generated by the light-receiving element into voltage, a charge transfer switch configured to transfer the charge from the light-receiving element to the floating diffusion, a reset switch configured to reset the voltage of the floating diffusion, and a source follower configured to amplify the voltage of the floating diffusion. The reset switch is configured to reset the voltage of the floating diffusion a plurality of times for each of predetermined pixel groups in a single image data acquisition period. The charge transfer switch is configured to transfer the charge from the light-receiving element to the floating diffusion a plurality of times for each of the pixel groups in the single image data acquisition period.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a valid area including pixels that are not shielded from light; a first light-blocked area and a second light-blocked area each including pixels that are shielded from light; an analog-to-digital converting unit to convert the electric charge accumulated by the pixels belonging to the first light-blocked area, the valid area, and the second light-blocked area, to image data at a time; a signal reading unit to read light-blocked data obtained from the first light-blocked area and the second light-blocked area, and valid data obtained from the valid area, in units of pixels; a reference black level estimating unit to estimate a reference black level of the light-blocked data; and a level correction unit to correct, based on the estimated reference black level, a size of the valid data obtained simultaneously with the light-blocked data used in estimating the reference black level.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of arranged imaging elements each including: a light-receiving element configured to generate charge from received light by photoelectric conversion, a floating diffusion configured to convert the charge generated by the light-receiving element into voltage, a charge transfer switch configured to transfer the charge from the light-receiving element to the floating diffusion, a reset switch configured to reset the voltage of the floating diffusion, and a source follower configured to amplify the voltage of the floating diffusion. The reset switch is configured to reset the voltage of the floating diffusion a plurality of times for each of predetermined pixel groups in a single image data acquisition period. The charge transfer switch is configured to transfer the charge from the light-receiving element to the floating diffusion a plurality of times for each of the pixel groups in the single image data acquisition period.

Abstract: A USB controller and a testing method of the USB controller are disclosed. The USB controller includes a sequence control unit for outputting a transmitting enable signal and a receiving enable signal, and for controlling a sequence of transmission and reception of data based on the transmitting enable signal and the receiving enable signal; a driver unit for transmitting data; a receiver unit for receiving data; a register for setting up a test mode wherein a loop-back test of the USB controller is performed; and a switching unit for providing one of the transmitting enable signal to the receiver unit and the receiving enable signal to the driver unit, if the test mode is set up in the register; wherein the loop-back test is performed if the test mode is set up in the register.

Abstract: A USB controller and a testing method of the USB controller are disclosed. The USB controller includes a sequence control unit for outputting a transmitting enable signal and a receiving enable signal, and for controlling a sequence of transmission and reception of data based on the transmitting enable signal and the receiving enable signal; a driver unit for transmitting data; a receiver unit for receiving data; a register for setting up a test mode wherein a loop-back test of the USB controller is performed; and a switching unit for providing one of the transmitting enable signal to the receiver unit and the receiving enable signal to the driver unit, if the test mode is set up in the register; wherein the loop-back test is performed if the test mode is set up in the register.

Abstract: A method for debindering of powder molded body, including dipping, in an extracting solution an aqueous surfactant solution, a ceramic powder or metal powder molded body containing a binder with at least two kinds of binder components, to selectively extract and remove at least one kind of binder component from the molded body, and then removing the binder components remaining in the molded body after extraction. This debindering method permits rapid debindering while preventing the generation of defects such as cracks and the like, is highly safe to human health and environment, and requires a low facility cost.

Abstract: As shown in FIG. 1A, a first resist film 2 comprising organic high molecules and a second resist film 3 comprising a photosensitive material are sequentially applied to a substrate 1 by the spin coat method or the spray method for forming a two-layer resist. Then, a mask 4 with which a metallic fine opening pattern 6 is formed on a mask substrate 5 comprising a dielectric, such as glass, is tightly contacted with the two-layer resist. Then, light is projected onto the back of the mask substrate to carry out exposure with near field light 7 which is effused from the opening portions of the mask 4 where no metal is formed. Then, a pattern is formed by processing the second resist layer 3 for development with a developing solution.

Abstract: There is provided a method for debindering of powder molded body, which comprises dipping, in an extracting solution composed of an aqueous surfactant solution, a ceramic powder or metal powder molded body containing a binder comprising at least two kinds of binder components, to selectively extract and remove at least one kind of binder component from the molded body, and then removing the binder components remaining in the molded body after extraction. This debindering method enables a short time and rapid debindering treatment while preventing the generation of defects such as cracks and the like, has high safety to human health and environment, and requires a low facility cost.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing a metal/ceramic composite, comprising the steps of adding starch to a ceramic slurry; casting the slurry into a water-nonabsorptive mold; heating the slurry to harden it to obtain a hardened body; demolding the hardened body out of the mold; and drying the hardened body to obtain a molded body; and then impregnating pores of the molded body or pores of a porous ceramic body produced by firing the molded body with a metal. The method can produce a metal/ceramic composite having a narrow metal distribution at a low cost, while freely controlling metal content as designed for complex shapes, or products with varying thickness or highly thick products, to say nothing of simple shapes.

Abstract: There are provided a positive photoresist composition comprising an alkali-soluble resin and a 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-(and/or-4-) sulfonic ester of a tetrahydroxy compound having a specific structure, said ester component having a pattern area in the high-performance liquid chromatography determined using ultraviolet rays of 254 nm accounting for 50% or more of the entire pattern area and a positive photoresist composition comprising an alkali-soluble resin and 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-(and/or -4-)sulfonic esters of two kinds of specific polyhydroxy compounds. The positive photoresist is suitable for ultrafine working and ensures high sensitivity and high resolution and is improved with respect to film thickness dependency and standing wave.

Abstract: A positive photoresist composition for ultrafine working ensuring high sensitivity, high resolution, improved film thickness dependency and improved exposure margin, which comprises an alkali-soluble resin and a 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-(and/or -4-)sulfonic ester of a polyhydroxy compound of formula (I), the tetraester component thereof accounting for 50% or more of the entire pattern area determined by high-performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet rays of 254 nm: ##STR1## wherein X represents ##STR2## and the substituents other than X are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation ray sensitive resin composition comprising a water-insoluble, alkali-soluble resin, a water-insoluble, alkali-soluble low-molecular compound and a radiation ray sensitive component, in which said radiation ray sensitive component contains a mixture composed of (A) a napthoquinonediazide sulfonic acid diester of water-insoluble, alkali-soluble low-molecular compounds having three and/or four phenolic hydroxyl groups and (B) a napthoquinonediazide sulfonic acid ester of a water-insoluble, alkali-soluble low-molecular compound having from 5 to 7 phenolic hydroxyl groups, in an amount of 30% or more of said radiation ray sensitive component. The composition is a positive type photoresist having a high resolution and small film thickness dependence. This has a broad latitude for development and leaves a small resist residue after development. This has high heat resistance and is therefore highly resistant to dry etching.