Abstract: An amorphous silicon conductive film on a semiconductor wafer is treated with hydrofluoric acid to remove a natural oxide film therefrom, and then a very thin oxide film is formed on the semiconductor wafer. Thereafter, a silane gas is used to form a nucleating film, followed by annealing to cause the surface of the conductive film be roughened. The very thin oxide film is formed in a thickness of 0.5 angstroms to 20 angstroms. The very thin oxide film is alternatively formed either by treatment with an aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution or by flushing treatment. Thus, a roughened surface having a satisfactory roughness is uniformly formed on the surface of a conductive film on a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus and method, such a problem that the user must wait for a long time until region separation processing is completed is solved. A binary-coding unit performs binary coding of a luminance component of input color-image data. An encoding unit performs arithmetic encoding of the binary image data, and another encoding unit performs block encoding of the color-image data, and codes obtained from the two encoding units are stored in different storage units. A predetermined pair of codes read from the storage unit are decoded by decoding units. A region discrimination unit discriminates image regions of decoded binary image data, and outputs data of character-line-drawing regions. A color-gradation-image extraction unit extracts data of color-gradation-image regions from decoded color-image data.

Abstract: One object of the present invention is to cut out areas of different natures from an image hierarchically. For encoding, an area identifier identifies areas of an input image. A multivalued area is encoded in a multivalued encoding mode. As for a bicolor area, typical-color values are computed and then encoded in a binary encoding mode. For decoding, multivalued coded data is decoded in a multivalued decoding mode. As for binary-coded data, values of pixels of a binary image resulting from binary decoding are transformed into multivalued data using associated typical-color values. The multivalued data is structured according to structural information, wherein areas of the data may be superposed mutually. Thus, an image is reconstructed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising binarization means for converting a multi-level color signal into binary form, removal means for removing edge component from the multi-level color signal, based on a binary color signal from said binarization means, and encoder means for encoding the binary color signal from said binarization means and the multi-level color signal having edge component removed with said removal means.

Abstract: A color image encoding method to encode a color image signal expressed by a plural number of color component signals, wherein the plural number of color component signals of a pixel of interest are input serially, encoding conditions are serially determined in relation to each color component signal of the pixel of interest input serially, and each color component signal of the pixel of interest input serially is encoded according to the encoding conditions determined serially.

Abstract: A movement vector detecting apparatus for detecting a movement vector of an object between frames which are close to each other on a block unit basis is provided. A first mode to detect the movement vector by using color components and a second mode to detect the movement vector by using a luminance component are switched in accordance with chromaticity statistics of an input block, thereby detecting the movement vector.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus wherein a difference between an input signal to be encoded and a prediction value is quantized, the quantized signal is generated, the quantized differential signal is inversely quantized, the sum of the inversely quantized reproduction differential signal and the prediction value is stored, the stored signal is read out on the basis of an address signal regarding the input signal, the read-out signal and the input signal are received as inputs and the prediction value is obtained. When the prediction value is derived, an evaluation function to obtain the prediction value is determined in accordance with chromaticity statistics of the input signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image recording apparatus having reader for photoelectrically reading an original and generating image information, a first transmitter for transmitting the image information from said reader, after compressing treatment, to an outside apparatus, a second transmitter for transmitting the image information from said reader without compressing treatment to an outside apparatus, and selecter for selecting either said first or second transmitters according to the destination of said image information.

Abstract: An image processing system of the invention has a reader which reads out an image of an original, a page memory which stores image information of the original in the form of electric signals, a disk memory which stores part or all of the image information in the disk memory and also stores image processing information, an image processing section, a digitizer for the operator to input the image processing information, a CRT which displays input information or corrections in convesation language, a DMA controller, and a printer. The image processing system of the invention is capable of DMA transfer without the intermediacy of a CPU. Fewer addresses are required for readout of the image information from the memory, and high speed image processing is achieved.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which a multi-level color signal is input and converted into a binary color signal. An edge component is removed from the multi-level color signal based on the binary color signal and the binary color signal and the multi-level color signal of which the edge component is removed are encoded.

Abstract: An information reproducing method and an apparatus therefor, by which operation guidance information may be automatically used without bothering an operator, includes a reproduction control unit for reading the operation guidance information depending on an event from a database when the event requiring measures taken by the operator occurs in an object apparatus to controllably reproduce the operation guidance information, and a reproducing unit, which is a terminal connected to the object apparatus to be able to manage the object apparatus, for reproducing the operation guidance information and notifying it to the operator. The operation guidance information about measures that should be taken to a condition of the object apparatus changing with a progress of the measures taken by the operator is reproduced at the terminal apparatus. These method and apparatus are applicable to a method and an apparatus used for reproducing various operation guidance information or multi-media information.

Abstract: A color image, including both a binary color image and a multivalue color image, can be encoded without any image degradation, and an image can be immediately checked at the time of encoding.In a color image encoding apparatus for encoding a multivalue color image, an image is separated into a binary color image and a multivalue color image, and the binary color image is hierarchically encoded.A feature portion is extracted from an original image, and the extracted feature portion is binarized to form a binary color image. The binary color image is encoded in accordance with information preservation encoding, and a difference image between the original image and the binary color image is hierarchically encoded.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus and method, such a problem that the user must wait for a long time until region separation processing is completed is solved. A binary-coding unit performs binary coding of a luminance component of input color-image data. An encoding unit performs arithmetic encoding of the binary image data, and another encoding unit performs block encoding of the color-image data, and codes obtained from the two encoding units are stored in different storage units. A predetermined pair of codes read from the storage unit are decoded by decoding units. A region discrimination unit discriminates image regions of decoded binary image data, and outputs data of charcter-line-drawing regions. A color-gradation-image extraction unit extracts data of color-gradation-image regions from decoded color-image data.

Abstract: An image information coding apparatus includes a cut-out or extracting unit for cutting out image information into blocks each having a predetermined size, e.g., 4.times.4 pixels, a preprocessing unit such as an orthogonal transformation unit (e.g., a Hadamard transformation unit) and a scalar quantization unit for performing predetermined preprocessing of the block as a matrix, a separator for separating a plurality of components (e.g., phase information, amplitude information, and zero information) from each element of the preprocessed matrix, information quantizers for coding individual pieces of information constituted by each component, and a synthesizer for synthesizing coding results.

Abstract: A binary image reducing method is so adapted that image reduction in which the occurrence of discontinuous lines is eliminated, is made possible even when there is a change in the reduction magnification of an image containing many lines of one-pixel width and characters or the like composed of line elements having a width of one to several pixels, such as an image created by a computer. First, an original image is subjected to enlargement processing by a micro-enlarging circuit, whereby the image is enlarged by 2.times.p (where, and the reduction ratio is p). Thereafter, 1/2 reduction processing, of the type which preserves fine lines, is executed by a 1/2 reducing circuit. As a result, it is possible to achieve a change in reduction at any desired magnification of 1/2-1 as well as preservation of fine lines in the reduced image obtained.

Abstract: An image information coding apparatus includes cut-out unit for cutting out image information into blocks each having a predetermined size, transforming unit for preprocessing to generate frequency information from each block, coding unit for separating the frequency information into a first frequency component relating to an average value of the block and a second frequency component different form the first frequency component and for coding the first and second frequency components independently. The coding unit includes scalar quantization means for performing scalar quantization on the frequency information, extracting unit for extracting zero information from the scalar quantized frequency information which includes the second frequency components, and zero coding unit for coding the zero information.

Abstract: An image reduction apparatus includes a smoothing unit for smoothing binary image data, a binarization unit for binarizing an output from the smoothing unit, a detection unit for detecting an attribute of the binary image data smoothed by the smoothing unit, a plurality of correction units corresponding to a plurality of attributes, and a selector for selecting one of the correction units in accordance with the attribute detected by the detection unit. An output from the binarization unit is corrected by the correction unit selected by the selector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the new thielocin derivatives, which exhibit phospholipase A.sub.2 inhibitory activity of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, and R.sup.8 are independently hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, or halogen;E.sub.1 and E.sub.2 are independently hydrogen, or an ester residue;m and n are independently an integer of 0 to 4;--Y-- is a bivalent group which is selected from the group consisiting of the following radicals: ##STR2## or the salts thereof.

Abstract: Molten carbonate type or phosphoric acid type fuel cells and a method for supplementing these fuel cells with an electrolyte are disclosed. A fuel cell having an extended life is provided by scattering a plurality of sealed supplementary electrolyte containers made of a material which is soluble in the electrolyte at elevated temperatures, and supplying the supplementary electrolyte from the dissolved containers to the fuel cell while the cell is working.

Abstract: An interlocking male member is provided in a lower end portion of each side member. The interlocking male member has a projection extending beyond an outer surface of said side member and a bulge on its vertical wall which projects inwardly away from the projection. An interlocking female member is provided on an periphery of a bottom member to extend along at least portions thereof which correspond in position to the male members of the side members. The female member has a locking hole in which the projection of the male member is locked, and a recessed portion in which the bulges are locked. The side members are mounted to the bottom member in an upright position, by fitting the male members in the female member, while tiling the side members with respect to the bottom member, so that the projections are locked in the locking holes, and then rotating the side members toward the upright position so that the bulges are locked in the recessed portions.