Abstract: It is made possible to reduce the interface resistance at the interface between the nickel silicide film and the silicon. A semiconductor manufacturing method includes: forming an impurity region on a silicon substrate, with impurities being introduced into the impurity region; depositing a Ni layer so as to cover the impurity region; changing the surface of the impurity region into a NiSi2 layer through annealing; forming a Ni layer on the NiSi2 layer; and silicidating the NiSi2 layer through annealing.

Abstract: A switch element includes a substrate; a plurality of carbon nanotubes provided upright on the substrate; magnetic particles arranged at tip ends of the carbon nanotubes respectively; and a plurality of conductive layers formed between base ends of the carbon nanotubes and the substrate. A switching operation of the switching element is performed in such a manner that the carbon nanotubes or the magnetic particles are brought into contact with each other according to an electrical potential between the conductive layers, and the carbon nanotubes are separated from each other when an electrical current flows through the carbon nanotubes with the carbon nanotubes or the magnetic particles brought into contact with each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for inspecting a fuel cell that can simply inspect fuel cell characteristics. The method is an inspecting method for a direct methanol fuel cell generator comprising an anode electrode including an node catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and N pieces of cells having an electrolyte disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, for power generation by feeding an aqueous methanol solution to the anode electrode and an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The fuel cell generator is inspected by measuring voltage changes of the voltage V of one electromotive unit caused by generating a current density change ?I or ??I (mA/cm2) satisfying the condition of 0.2??I?5 in a finite current density I (mA/cm2) loaded on the plural electromotive units arbitrarily connected in series in the fuel cell generator under power generation during a time interval ?t (sec) satisfying the condition of 10?5??t?0.5.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for inspecting a fuel cell that can simply inspect fuel cell characteristics. The method is an inspecting method for a direct methanol fuel cell generator comprising an anode electrode including an node catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, and N pieces of cells having an electrolyte disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, for power generation by feeding an aqueous methanol solution to the anode electrode and an oxidant gas to the cathode electrode. The fuel cell generator is inspected by measuring voltage changes of the voltage V of one electromotive unit caused by generating a current density change ?I or ??I (mA/cm2) satisfying the condition of 0.2??I?5 in a finite current density I (mA/cm2) loaded on the plural electromotive units arbitrarily connected in series in the fuel cell generator under power generation during a time interval ?t (sec) satisfying the condition of 10?5??t?0.5.

Abstract: A colored composition for color filter contains a pigment carrier made of a transparent resin, a precursor thereof, or a mixture thereof, an organic pigment, and a pigment-dispersing agent comprising a quinoline derivative represented by the following General formula (1) or (2), or an amine or metal salt thereof, and a color filter comprises filter segments formed with the color composition: where X represent a halogen atom selected from chlorine, bromine and iodine; n and m each independently represent the number of halogen atoms X, and are each an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: A fuel cell power generating apparatus comprises an electromotive section, a container, a methanol aqueous solution recovery mechanism, and flow rate controller controlling the flow rate Jm (mL/min) which controls the flow rate Jm (mL/min) at which the methanol aqueous solution is supplied from the container, in accordance with an evaluated concentration of the methanol aqueous solution in the container, wherein the fuel cell power generating apparatus satisfies conditions (1) to (3) given below: 2?Cm0?5??(1) L?40??(2) N·0.65/L·S?Jm?N·5.2/L·S??(3).

Abstract: The data communication apparatus of the present invention includes a CPU, operation panel, reading unit, image memory for storing read image data, resolution converter for converting stored image data to an optional resolution, telephone communication unit for transmitting data over a telephone line, network communication unit for transmitting data over an internet line, and a printing unit. The resolution converter converts fine detail data to low detail data and sends the low detail data to the telephone communication unit when transmitting data over the telephone line. In this way data reception reliably occurs simultaneously with data transmission. Thereafter, when fine detail request data including resolution data are received over the telephone line, the data are converted to the desired resolution, and sent to the network communication unit. In this way the apparatus attains excellent operationality since fine detail data are transmitted only as necessary.

Abstract: An apparatus of two stories for manufacturing a non-resonance knock sensor has an assembly body stage positioned at a first floor for forming an assembly body in which a lower insulator, a lower terminal plate, a piezoelectric element, an upper terminal plate and an upper insulator are mounted on a cylindrical base, and process stages positioned at a second floor for fastening the assembly body with a nut to form a sensor main body, bending partly the lower and upper terminal plates of the sensor main body and connecting by welding a resistor between the lower and upper terminal plates which are partly bent in the sensor main body. Accordingly, its manufacturing line is compact and can be installed in smaller horizontal ground area.

Abstract: A new austenitic stainless steel containing approximately 0.1-1.0 mass % of Si and not more than approximately 0.003 mass % of Al. Nonmetallic inclusions dispersed in a steel matrix are converted to MnO—SiO2—Al2O3 containing not less than approximately 15 mass % of SiO2 and not more than approximately 40 mass % of Al2O3. During steel making, molten steel is covered with basic slag and heavily deoxidized with a Si alloy whose Al content is controlled to not more than approximately 1.0 mass % in a vacuum or non-oxidizing atmosphere. The austenitic stainless steel sheet can be formed to an objective shape without the occurrence of cracking due to its decrease in susceptibility to cracking and its good formability.

Abstract: A direct type fuel cell power generator comprises an anode electrode including an anode catalyst layer, a cathode electrode including a cathode catalyst layer, a fuel container comprising at least two electromotive portion units, each of which comprises an electrolyte film disposed between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, the fuel container housing a fuel therein, and a fuel flow path to supply a fuel in the electromotive portion unit. In the power generator, the fuel flow path has a flow path which produces flow-back again from the fuel container to the first electromotive portion unit via the first electromotive portion unit and the second electromotive portion unit, and which is not branched during the flow-back.

Abstract: A new austenitic stainless steel containing approximately 0.1-1.0 mass % of Si and not more than approximately 0.003 mass % of Al. Nonmetallic inclusions dispersed in a steel matrix are converted to MnO—SiO2—Al2O3 containing not less than approximately 15 mass % of SiO2 and not more than approximately 40 mass % of Al2O3. During steel making, molten steel is covered with basic slag and heavily deoxidized with a Si alloy whose Al content is controlled to not more than approximately 1.0 mass % in a vacuum or non-oxidizing atmosphere. The austenitic stainless steel sheet can be formed to an objective shape without the occurrence of cracking due to its decrease in susceptibility to cracking and its good formability.

Abstract: An electric resistance material comprises an Fe—Cr—Ni alloy having composition of C up to 0.1%, Si up to 5%, Mn up to 6%, 9-32% Cr, 6-25% Ni, N up to 0.2%, 0-3% Mo, 0-4% Cu, 0-5% Al, 0-0.4% Ti, 0-0.4% Nb, 0-0.005% B and the balance being substantially Fe with the previsions that the value A defined by the formula (1) and the value B defined by the formula (2) are not less than 78 and not less than 14, respectively. The electric resistance material is high of resistivity with less temperature dependency, and a resistor made therefrom works well without noises during flow of electricity. A = 0.

Abstract: A new soft stainless steel sheet has an austenite-stability index Md30 controlled in a range of −120 to −10 and a stacking fault formability index SFI controlled not less than 30, and involves precipitates whose Cu concentration is controlled not more than 1.0%, so as to maintain concentration of dissolved Cu at 1-5%. The stainless steel sheet preferably contains up to 0.06%(C+N), up to 2.0% Si, up to 5% Mn, 15-20% Cr, 5-9% Ni, 1.0-4.0% Cu, up to 0.003% Al, up to 0.005% S, and optionally one or more of up to 0.5% Ti, up to 0.5% Nb, up to 0.5% Zr, up to 0.5% V, up to 3.0% Mo, up to 0.03% B, up to 0.02% REM (rare earth metals) and up to 0.03% Ca. The stainless steel sheet can be plastically deformed to an objective shape without any cracks even at a part heavily-worked part by multi-stage deep drawing or compression deforming. Md30(° C.)=551−462(C+N)−9.2Si−8.1Mn−29(Ni+Cu)−13.7Cr−18.5Mo SFI(mJ/m2)=2.2Ni+6Cu−1.

Abstract: The invention is capable of suppressing drop of power in power generation for a long period of time, and suppressing discharge of harmful substances.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for inspecting a fuel cell that can simply inspect fuel cell characteristics.

Abstract: A Fe-Cr soft magnetic material has electric resistivity not less than 50 &mgr;&OHgr;·cm and a metallurgical structure occupied by a ferrite phase at a surface ratio of 95% or more. A number of fine precipitates of 1 &mgr;m or less in particle size is controlled at a ratio not more than 6×105/mm2. The Fe-Cr alloy has the composition (expressed in mass or weight %) of C up to 0.05%, N up to 0.05%, Si up to 3.0%, Mn up to 1.0%, P up to 0.04%, S up to 1.0%, 5.0-20.0% Cr, Al up to 4.0%, 0-3% Mo, 0-0.5% Ti and the balance being essentially Fe under the conditions of (1) and (2). The Fe-Cr soft magnetic material is useful as a core, a yoke or the like installed in various types of magnetic sensors such as electric power steering, fuel injection systems for vehicles and A.C. magnetic circuits of solenoid valves, due to production of high magnetic induction in a high-frequency low-magnetic field: 4.3×%Cr+19.1×%Si+15.1×%Al+2.5×%Mo≧40.

Abstract: The amount in offset of toner or the like is used to determine two points sandwiching lattice points of input data and divide the region between the two points equally in N−1. The output values at the two points and each point equally dividing the region are obtained to calculate gradients m1-m8 between any two adjacent ones of the points. Then, difference values dm1-dm7 in gradient between any two adjacent ones of the straight lines are calculated and (N−1) lattice points serving as dividing points are selected from the difference values in descending order. It should be noted that N is smaller than M. Then, the input and output values of the determined (N+1) lattice points N0-N4 are plotted and they are bounded by straight line and thus plotted to linearly interpolate the output data for the input data. Thus, an image processing apparatus can be provided capable of precisely modifying output images with reduced memory capacity.

Abstract: A new soft stainless steel sheet has an austenite-stability index Md30 controlled in a range of −120 to −10 and a stacking fault formability index SFI controlled not less than 30, and involves precipitates whose Cu concentration is controlled not more than 1.0%, so as to maintain concentration of dissolved Cu at 1-5%. The stainless steel sheet preferably contains up to 0.06%(C+N), up to 2.0% Si, up to 5% Mn, 15-20% Cr, 5-9% Ni, 1.0-4.0% Cu, up to 0.003% Al, up to 0.005% S, and optionally one or more of up to 0.5% Y, up to 0.5% Nb, up to 0.5% Zr, up to 0.5% V, up to 3.0% Mo, up to 0.03% B, up to 0.02% REM (rare earth metals) and up to 0.03% Ca. The stainless steel sheet can be plastically deformed to an objective shape without any cracks even at a part heavily-worked part by multi-stage deep drawing or compression deforming.

Abstract: A pixel interpolating device using the IM-GPDCT method and capable of preventing noise generation divides an original image into a plurality of blocks and picks up a block to be processed as a target block. Further, an image peripheral to the target block is extracted as a peripheral image. By using the peripheral image as an extension region, DCT transform is carried out. Thereafter, the peripheral image is magnified, and the IM-GPDCT processing is carried by using the magnified image.

Abstract: An electric resistance material comprises an Fe—Cr—Ni alloy having composition of C up to 0.1%, Si up to 5%, Mn up to 6%, 9-32% Cr, 6-25% Ni, N up to 0.2%, 0-3% Mo, 0-4% Cu, 0-5% Al, 0-0.4% Ti, 0-0.4% Nb, 0-0.005% B and the balance being substantially Fe with the previsions that the value A defined by the formula (1) and the value B defined by the formula (2) are not less than 78 and not less than 14, respectively. The electric resistance material is high of resistivity with less temperature dependency, and a resistor made therefrom works well without noises during flow of electricity. 1 A = 0.008 × ( % ⁢   ⁢ Cr ) 3 - 0.43 × ( % ⁢   ⁢ Cr ) 2 + 8.03 × ( % ⁢   ⁢ Cr ) + 6.8 × ( % ⁢   ⁢ Si ) + 10.9 × ( % ⁢   ⁢ Al ) + 0.56 × ( % ⁢   ⁢ Mo ) + 0.