Abstract: A recognition dictionary system includes a variant term accumulation unit, a variant frequency analysis unit, and a recognition dictionary update unit. The variant term accumulation unit is configured to accumulate and store a first variant term that has a meaning equivalent to a base term stored in a recognition dictionary and has first character string information that is different from character string information of the base term. The variant frequency analysis unit is configured to analyze an occurrence frequency of the first variant term accumulated and stored in the variant term accumulation unit and to determine the first variant term as a principal variant term when the occurrence frequency is higher than a first prescribed value. The recognition dictionary update unit is configured to update the recognition dictionary to register the principal variant term in the recognition dictionary as being associated with the base term.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus for a vehicle includes an indicator mounted on the vehicle for indicating a target direction and a control unit for controlling the indicator. The control unit includes a function for acquiring a current position of the vehicle and a reference direction of the vehicle, a function for specifying a target and acquiring a target position, a function for calculating a target angle that indicates a target direction against the reference direction based on the target position, the current position and the reference direction, and a function for generating a presentation command based on the calculated target angle so as to indicate the target direction by the indicator. According to the apparatus, information for specifying the target position can be provided.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus includes vacuum processing chambers for subjecting a sample to vacuum processing, a vacuum carriage, a switchable chamber, a cassette support for supporting a plurality of cassettes capable of housing samples, and a waiting cassette support for supporting a waiting cassette that differs from the cassettes supported on the cassette support and capable of having a number of samples. An atmospheric carriage enables carrying a sample among a given cassette of the plurality of cassettes or the waiting cassette. A controller effects control for carrying unprocessed and processed samples among the given cassette, the waiting cassette and the vacuum processing chamber, so that a mixture of both processed and unprocessed samples does not exist in the given cassette or the waiting cassette.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus includes vacuum processing chambers for subjecting a sample to vacuum processing, a vacuum carriage, a switchable chamber, a cassette support for supporting a plurality of cassettes capable of housing samples, and a waiting cassette support for supporting a waiting cassette that differs from the cassettes supported on the cassette support and capable of having a number of samples. An atmospheric carriage enables carrying a sample among a given cassette of the plurality of cassettes or the waiting cassette. A controller effects control for carrying unprocessed and processed samples among the given cassette, the waiting cassette and the vacuum processing chamber, so that a mixture of both processed and unprocessed samples does not exist in the given cassette or the waiting cassette.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus and method in which the apparatus includes vacuum processing chambers for subjecting a sample to vacuum processing, a vacuum carriage, a switchable chamber, a cassette support for supporting a plurality of cassettes capable of housing samples, and a waiting cassette support for supporting a waiting cassette that differs from the cassettes supported on the cassette support and capable of having a number of samples. An atmospheric carriage enables carrying a sample among a given cassette of the plurality of cassettes or the waiting cassette. A controller effects control for carrying unprocessed and processed samples among the given cassette, the waiting cassette and the vacuum processing chamber, so that a mixture of both processed and unprocessed samples does not exist in the given cassette or the waiting cassette.

Abstract: An information presentation apparatus for a vehicle includes an indicator mounted on the vehicle for indicating a target direction and a control unit for controlling the indicator. The control unit includes a function for acquiring a current position of the vehicle and a reference direction of the vehicle, a function for specifying a target and acquiring a target position, a function for calculating a target angle that indicates a target direction against the reference direction based on the target position, the current position and the reference direction, and a function for generating a presentation command based on the calculated target angle so as to indicate the target direction by the indicator. According to the apparatus, information for specifying the target position can be provided.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus and method includes at least one vacuum processing chamber, at least one carriage for carrying the sample from a given cassette into and out of the vacuum processing chamber. A controller performs carriage control for carrying the sample taken out of the given cassette into the vacuum processing chamber, and for carrying the processed sample out of the vacuum processing chamber. A waiting cassette support supports a waiting cassette in which an unprocessed sample from the given cassette or a processed sample from the given cassette after vacuum processing is placed so as to prevent the processed and unprocessed sample from being mixed with each other.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus includes vacuum processing chambers for subjecting a sample to vacuum processing, a vacuum carriage, a switchable chamber, a cassette support for supporting a plurality of cassettes capable of housing samples, and a waiting cassette support for supporting a waiting cassette that differs from the cassettes supported on the cassette support and capable of having a number of samples. An atmospheric carriage enables carrying a sample among a given cassette of the plurality of cassettes or the waiting cassette. A controller effects control for carrying unprocessed and processed samples among the given cassette, the waiting cassette and the vacuum processing chamber, so that a mixture of both processed and unprocessed samples does not exist in the given cassette or the waiting cassette.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus and method in which the apparatus includes vacuum processing chambers for subjecting a sample to vacuum processing, a vacuum carriage, a switchable chamber, a cassette support for supporting a plurality of cassettes capable of housing samples, and a waiting cassette support for supporting a waiting cassette that differs from the cassettes supported on the cassette support and capable of having a number of samples. An atmospheric carriage enables carrying a sample among a given cassette of the plurality of cassettes or the waiting cassette. A controller effects control for carrying unprocessed and processed samples among the given cassette, the waiting cassette and the vacuum processing chamber, so that a mixture of both processed and unprocessed samples does not exist in the given cassette or the waiting cassette.

Abstract: Provided are a voice recognition system for making a response based on an input of a voice uttered by a user including: an audio input unit for converting the uttered voice into voice data; a voice recognizing unit for recognizing a combination of terms constituting the voice data and calculating reliability of recognition of each of the terms; a response generating unit for generating a voice response; and an audio output unit for presenting the user with information using the voice response. The response generating unit: generates synthesis audio for a term whose calculated reliability satisfies a predetermined condition; extracts from the voice data a part corresponding to a term whose calculated reliability does not satisfy the predetermined condition; and generates the voice response based on at least one of the synthesis audio, the extracted voice data and a combination of the synthesis audio and the extracted voice data.

Abstract: A recognition dictionary system includes a variant term accumulation unit, a variant frequency analysis unit, and a recognition dictionary update unit. The variant term accumulation unit is configured to accumulate and store a first variant term that has a meaning equivalent to a base term stored in a recognition dictionary and has first character string information that is different from character string information of the base term. The variant frequency analysis unit is configured to analyze an occurrence frequency of the first variant term accumulated and stored in the variant term accumulation unit and to determine the first variant term as a principal variant term when the occurrence frequency is higher than a first prescribed value. The recognition dictionary update unit is configured to update the recognition dictionary to register the principal variant term in the recognition dictionary as being associated with the base term.

Abstract: A substrate assembly for supporting an optical component includes a substrate having a front surface and a first recess, a second recess formed portion disposed in the first recess and having a second recess smaller in diameter than the first recess and having an open end at least at a side corresponding to the front surface, the second recess formed portion being made of a material having a machinability better than a material forming the substrate, and an alignment guide member fitted in the second recess and having a protruded portion protruding from the front surface of the ceramic substrate and fittingly engageable in an alignment hole of the optical component. A method of producing such a substrate assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus and method includes a sample taken out from a given cassette placed on a cassette support in atmosphere, the sample is carried into a vacuum processing chamber via a chamber enabling switching between atmosphere and vacuum, the sample is subjected to etching processing in the vacuum processing chamber, and at least one inspection process is carried out in the vacuum either before or after etching of the sample in the vacuum processing chamber. The at least one inspection process in the vacuum is a defect inspection.

Abstract: An optical device mounted substrate assembly includes a ceramic substrate having a first recess, an optical device mounted on the ceramic substrate and having one of a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, the optical device being to be optically connected to one of an optical waveguide and an optical fiber connector in way as to align optical axes of the optical wave guide or the optical fiber connector with each other, a resin layer disposed in the first recess and having a second recess smaller in diameter than the first recess, and an alignment guide member fitted in the second recess and having a protruded portion protruding from a front surface of the ceramic substrate and fittingly engageable in an alignment hole of one of the optical waveguide and the optical fiber connector. A fabrication method of such a substrate assembly is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus capable of preventing increase of carriage time of samples, deterioration of sample output, increase of footprint and increase of investment costs. The vacuum processing apparatus comprises a plurality of vacuum processing chambers for subjecting a sample to vacuum processing; a vacuum carriage for carrying the sample into and out of the vacuum processing chamber; a switchable chamber capable of being switched between atmosphere and vacuum for carrying the sample into and out of the vacuum processing chamber; a cassette support for supporting a plurality of cassettes and a controller for controlling carrying of the sample from a cassette through the switchable chambers, the vacuum carriage means into and out of the vacuum processing chamber. The vacuum processing chamber is equipped with an etching chamber and a critical dimension measurement chamber for critical dimension inspection of the sample.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum processing apparatus and vacuum processing method capable of improving the yield factor of a product.

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus capable of preventing increase of carriage time of samples, deterioration of sample output, increase of footprint and increase of investment costs.

Abstract: An optical device mounted substrate assembly includes a ceramic substrate having a first recess, an optical device mounted on the ceramic substrate and having one of a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, the optical device being to be optically connected to one of an optical waveguide and an optical fiber connector in way as to align optical axes of the optical wave guide or the optical fiber connector with each other, a resin layer disposed in the first recess and having a second recess smaller in diameter than the first recess, and an alignment guide member fitted in the second recess and having a protruded portion protruding from a front surface of the ceramic substrate and fittingly engageable in an alignment hole of one of the optical waveguide and the optical fiber connector. A fabrication method of such a substrate assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A substrate assembly for supporting an optical component includes a substrate having a front surface and a first recess, a second recess formed portion disposed in the first recess and having a second recess smaller in diameter than the first recess and having an open end at least at a side corresponding to the front surface, the second recess formed portion being made of a material having a machinability better than a material forming the substrate, and an alignment guide member fitted in the second recess and having a protruded portion protruding from the front surface of the ceramic substrate and fittingly engageable in an alignment hole of the optical component. A method of producing such a substrate assembly is also provided.

Abstract: In navigation system, method, and program for an automotive vehicle, a travel history of the vehicle which is made correspondent with a road map information is stored, a degree of a user's familiarity with one of predetermined regions for each of the predetermined regions in the road map information is calculated on the basis of the travel history of the vehicle and its corresponding road map information, and the road map information is produced in accordance with the calculated degree of the user's familiarity with the one of the predetermined regions.