Abstract: There is provided a resist underlayer film forming composition that is used in a lithography process for the production of semiconductor devices and that can be developed with an alkaline developer for photoresists, and a method of forming a photoresist pattern by using the resist underlayer film forming composition. The resist underlayer film forming composition used in a lithography process for a production of a semiconductor device comprising: an alkali-soluble resin (a); a polynuclear phenol (b); a compound (c) having at least two vinylether groups; and a photoacid generator (d). The alkali-soluble resin (a) may be a polymer containing a unit structure having a carboxyl group, and the polynuclear phenol (b) may be a compound having 2 to 30 phenolic hydroxyl groups in the molecule.

Abstract: An optical fiber processing apparatus comprises reactors (3, 3a, 3b and 3c) that accommodate optical fiber, a single suction pump (7) having an intake port (19) and an outlet port (21), a storage chamber (5) into which deuterium containing gas is delivered, and a circuit portion (9, 59) including a plurality of valves disposed on a plurality of passages connecting the reactors, the suction pump and the storage chamber. The circuit portion includes a first channel for returning deuterium containing gas inside a reactor chamber to the storage chamber, a second channel for delivering air to the reactor chamber thereby rendering the pressure inside the reactor chamber atmospheric pressure, a third channel for decompression of the reactor chamber and a fourth channel for supplying deuterium containing gas in the storage chamber into the reactor chamber.

Abstract: A first video characteristic value is determined from a video/audio signal. The first video characteristic value is embedded in an audio portion of the video/audio signal and the video/audio signal is transmitted from a transmission source to a transmission destination. At the destination, the first video characteristic value is recovered and the received video/audio signal is used to determine a second video characteristic value. The recovered first video characteristic value is used to verify or check the second video characteristic value. By comparing the first and second video characteristic values, a determination is made about degradation of the received video/audio signal. In one example, a determination is made as to whether a lip-sync error has likely occurred. In another example, the audio-transmitted first video characteristic is used for copyright protection purposes.

Abstract: A PDP and a manufacturing method for the PDP are provided, the PDP being capable of suppressing discharge delay due to improved discharge properties of a protective layer, and exhibiting superior image display performance despite having a high-definition cell structure. A magnesium oxide powder layer (16) is formed by distributing magnesium oxide particles (16a) flatly on a surface layer (8). Each of the magnesium oxide particles (16a) includes halogen atoms at and in a vicinity of the surface thereof. The magnesium oxide particles (16a) are manufactured such that the halogen atoms exist particularly at the surface of each of magnesium oxide particles (16a) through to a depth of 4 nm or less toward the core of each of the magnesium oxide particles (16a).

Abstract: A monitoring method for monitoring a video/audio signal transmitted from a transmission source to a transmission destination has a step of storing the video/audio signal transmitted from the transmission source to the transmission destination repeatedly for a predetermined time period, a step of comparing a first characteristic amount extracted from the video/audio signal before the transmission and a second characteristic amount extracted from the video/audio signal after the transmission in real time, a step of determining an error occurrence when there is a difference of a predetermined value or more between the first characteristic amount and the second characteristic amount, and a step of transmitting the stored video/audio signal to a predetermined destination when an error occurrence is determined.

Abstract: A treatment method for an optical fiber including accommodating an optical fiber inside a treatment chamber; introducing a deuterium containing gas into the treatment chamber; and in a deuterium treatment step, exposing the optical fiber to atmosphere of the deuterium containing gas. In the deuterium treatment step, a deuterium concentration D in the treatment chamber during the deuterium treatment is calculated from an initial value A of a deuterium concentration in the deuterium containing gas inside the treatment chamber, a concentration B of oxygen in an ambient atmosphere of the treatment chamber, and a concentration C of oxygen in the deuterium containing gas inside the treatment chamber, and the deuterium concentration in the treatment chamber is controlled based on the deuterium concentration D calculated. Other gases such as hydrogen containing gas or nitrogen containing gas may also be used according to the invention.

Abstract: A chain drive system includes a drive sprocket, a driven sprocket and a chain looped over the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket. The chain and the sprocket having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other in the presence of lubricating oil, and any adjacent chain components of the chain having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other in the presence of lubricating oil. At least one of the sliding surfaces between the chain and the sprocket and at least one of the sliding surfaces between any adjacent chain components have hard carbon coatings formed on base portions thereof. Each of the hard carbon coatings has a hydrogen content of 10 atomic % or less.

Abstract: Since a delaying part (14) delays transmission of a video signal, the timing at which a decoded video signal is input into a multiplex processing part (16) matches the timing at which an analysis result from an encoded information analyzing part 13 is received by the multiplex processing part (16). It is, therefore, possible to perform processing for showing the quality level of a video on the same screen, and thus a large capacity memory is unnecessary.

Abstract: A monitoring method for monitoring a video/audio signal transmitted from a transmission source to a transmission destination has a step of storing the video/audio signal transmitted from the transmission source to the transmission destination repeatedly for a predetermined time period, a step of comparing a first characteristic amount extracted from the video/audio signal before the transmission and a second characteristic amount extracted from the video/audio signal after the transmission in real time, a step of determining an error occurrence when there is a difference of a predetermined value or more between the first characteristic amount and the second characteristic amount, and a step of transmitting the stored video/audio signal to a predetermined destination when an error occurrence is determined.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve for an automotive internal combustion engine comprises a needle valve and an opposite member which are in slidable contact with each other in presence of fuel. A hard carbon thin film is coated on at least one of the sliding sections of the base materials of the needle valve and the opposite member. The hard carbon thin film has a surface hardness ranging from 1500 to 4500 kg/mm2 in Knoop hardness, a film thickness ranging from 0.3 to 2.0 ?m, and a surface roughness (Ry) (?m) which satisfies a relationship represented by the following formula (A): Ry<(0.75?Hk/8000)×h+0.0875??(A) where h is the thickness (?m) of the hard carbon thin film; Hk is the surface hardness in Knoop hardness (kg/mm2) of the hard carbon thin film.

Abstract: There is provided a sliding member including a base body and a hard carbon coating formed on the base body to define a sliding surface for sliding contact with an opposing member under lubrication according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hard carbon coating has an outermost surface portion lower in hydrogen content than a remaining portion thereof, or an outermost coating layer lower in hydrogen content than at least one other coating layer.

Abstract: A method of treating optical fiber includes at least a first step of creating a reduced-pressure atmosphere in a space which holds the optical fiber, and a second step of introducing to the space a deuterium-containing gas so as to expose the optical fiber to the gas.

Abstract: A monitoring method for monitoring a video/audio signal transmitted from a transmission source to a transmission destination has a step of storing the video/audio signal transmitted from the transmission source to the transmission destination repeatedly for a predetermined time period, a step of comparing a first characteristic amount extracted from the video/audio signal before the transmission and a second characteristic amount extracted from the video/audio signal after the transmission in real time, a step of determining an error occurrence when there is a difference of a predetermined value or more between the first characteristic amount and the second characteristic amount, and a step of transmitting the stored video/audio signal to a predetermined destination when an error occurrence is determined.

Abstract: There is provided a sliding member including a base body and a hard carbon coating formed on the base body to define a sliding surface for sliding contact with an opposing member under lubrication according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hard carbon coating has an outermost surface portion lower in hydrogen content than a remaining portion thereof, or an outermost coating layer lower in hydrogen content than at least one other coating layer.

Abstract: A monitoring system checks a transmission error of a video/audio signal transmitted from a source (10) to a destination (20A, 20B) by comparing in real time a first feature extracted from the pre-transmission video/audio signal and a second feature extracted from the post-transmission video/audio signal. The transmitted video/audio signal is repeatedly stored for a predetermined period of time. When the system judges that a transmission error has occurred, it transmits the stored video/audio signal to a predetermined address. Thus, the transmission error of the transmitted video/audio signal can be analyzed rapidly and in detail.

Abstract: A low friction sliding combination of a cam and a cam follower which are in slidable contact with each other in presence of a lubricating oil. The cam follower includes a cylindrical and hollow outer roller having an outer peripheral surface in slidable contact with the cam. A fixed pin is coaxially disposed inside the outer roller and rotatably movable relative to the outer roller. A diamond-like carbon material is coated on a sliding surface of at least one of the outer roller and the fixed pin. The lubricating oil contains at least one of ashless fatty acid ester friction modifier and ashless aliphatic amine friction modifier.

Abstract: A video/audio signal transmitted from a transmission source 10 to transmission destinations 20A and 20B is stored repeatedly for a predetermined time period. Thus, for example if the video/audio signal is overwritten at predetermined timing, it is sufficient to have a small storage capacity for the video/audio signal. Also, the video/audio signal on which an error has occurred remains without being overwritten at the time of determination that an error has occurred. Accordingly, by transmitting this signal to a predetermined destination, a detailed error analysis can be made promptly on the basis of the transmitted video/audio signal.

Abstract: A piston for an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. The piston has a piston ring and a piston skirt section each of which has a sliding section in slidable contact with a cylinder bore section of a cylinder block in presence of a lubricating oil. The cylinder bore section is formed of eutectic or hyper-eutectic aluminum alloy. Additionally, a hard carbon thin film is coated on the sliding section of the piston and contains hydrogen atom in an amount of not more than 1 atomic %. Here, the lubricating oil contains at least one selected from the group consisting of ashless fatty acid ester friction modifier, ashless aliphatic amine friction modifier, polybutenyl succinimide, derivative of polybutenyl succinimide, zinc dithiophosphate, and derivative of zinc dithiophosphate.

Abstract: A low-friction sliding mechanism includes first and second sliding members having respective sliding surfaces slidable relative to each other and a lubricant applied to the sliding surfaces of the first and second sliding members. At least the sliding surface of the first sliding member is made of a diamond-like carbon material, and at least the sliding surface of the second sliding member is made of either an aluminum-based alloy material, a magnesium-based alloy material or a diamond-like carbon material. The lubricant contains a base oil and at least one of an ashless fatty-ester friction modifier and an ashless aliphatic-amine friction modifier.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a product that is superior in barrier properties (for example, zinc erosion resistance and anti-adhesive property), abrasion resistant property, surface hardening property, thermal stability and life-time prolonging property. The product, which is made in direct contact with molten metal containing zinc in a molten state, is characterized by including an iron-tungsten alloy coating that is applied to a part or the whole of the surface of the product that comes directly in contact with the molten metal.