Abstract: A method for producing a phenylphosphonic acid metal salt, including reacting a phenylphosphonic acid compound (a) with a metal salt, metal oxide or metal hydroxide (b) that is present in an amount beyond the equivalent; a phenylphosphonic acid metal salt composition comprising a phenylphosphonic acid metal salt and surplus metal salt, surplus metal oxide or surplus metal hydroxide produced by the method; and a thermoplastic resin composition comprising the phenylphosphonic acid metal salt composition.

Abstract: According to this invention, even when an image capturing apparatus has a plurality of read modes, the frame rate can be prevented from decreasing in a high-resolution video photographing mode. The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor and drive unit. The image sensor includes an effective image sensing area having a plurality of pixels at the center portion of the image sensor, and a light-shielded pixel area having a plurality of light-shielded pixels at the peripheral portion of the image sensor. The drive unit can drive the image sensor in a plurality of modes, and drives the image sensor such that the plurality of read modes are almost equal to the light-shielded pixel read time BL-MIN for reading pixel signals in the light-shielded pixel area.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus which is capable of performing a smear amount correction processing suitably according to change in the smear amount to suppress overcorrection of the smear amount. An output value of an image sensor and a smear amount on each of vertical lines of the image sensor are stored, respectively. An output signal value of an optical black portion on the image sensor stored in the first memory is compared with the smear amount stored in the second memory to determine a cyclic coefficient based on the comparison result. The smear amount is calculated based on the output signal value of the optical black portion on the image sensor stored in the first memory, the smear amount stored in the second memory, and the cyclic coefficient determined by the smear detection unit. A correction coefficient is calculated based on the smear amount determined by the smear amount calculating unit.

Abstract: According to this invention, even when an image capturing apparatus has a plurality of read modes, the frame rate can be prevented from decreasing in a high-resolution video photographing mode. The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor and drive unit. The image sensor includes an effective image sensing area having a plurality of pixels at the center portion of the image sensor, and a light-shielded pixel area having a plurality of light-shielded pixels at the peripheral portion of the image sensor. The drive unit can drive the image sensor in a plurality of modes, and drives the image sensor such that the plurality of read modes are almost equal to the light-shielded pixel read time BL-MIN for reading pixel signals in the light-shielded pixel area.

Abstract: Using correction values obtained based on image signals outputted from an image sensing unit by controlling the image sensing unit in the first mode, in which image signals are read out from a first photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a first region of an image sensing plane, the image signals outputted from an image sensing apparatus by controlling the image sensing unit in the second mode, in which image signals are read out from a second photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a second region that is smaller than the first region of the image sensing plane, are subjected to a white balance process.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit which has a first mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a first photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a first region of an imaging plane; and a second mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a second photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a second region which is different from the first region of the imaging plane. In addition, the control unit performs control so as to cause a period from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal of the predetermined line in the first mode to be the same as that from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal in the second mode.

Abstract: According to this invention, even when an image capturing apparatus has a plurality of read modes, the frame rate can be prevented from decreasing in a high-resolution video photographing mode. The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor and drive unit. The image sensor includes an effective image sensing area having a plurality of pixels at the center portion of the image sensor, and a light-shielded pixel area having a plurality of light-shielded pixels at the peripheral portion of the image sensor. The drive unit can drive the image sensor in a plurality of modes, and drives the image sensor such that the plurality of read modes are almost equal to the light-shielded pixel read time BL?MIN for reading pixel signals in the light-shielded pixel area.

Abstract: According to this invention, even when an image capturing apparatus has a plurality of read modes, the frame rate can be prevented from decreasing in a high-resolution video photographing mode. The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor and drive unit. The image sensor includes an effective image sensing area having a plurality of pixels at the center portion of the image sensor, and a light-shielded pixel area having a plurality of light-shielded pixels at the peripheral portion of the image sensor. The drive unit can drive the image sensor in a plurality of modes, and drives the image sensor such that the plurality of read modes are almost equal to the light-shielded pixel read time BL-MIN for reading pixel signals in the light-shielded pixel area.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit which has a first mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a first photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a first region of an imaging plane; and a second mode in which image signals are read out successively from every predetermined line of a second photoelectric conversion element group arranged in a second region which is different from the first region of the imaging plane. In addition, the control unit performs control so as to cause a period from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal of the predetermined line in the first mode to be the same as that from starting readout of the signal of the predetermined line to starting next readout of the signal in the second mode.

Abstract: In a method of producing a semiconductor apparatus, which method includes a trench forming step of forming a trench in a silicon substrate and an inner wall oxidizing step of forming an oxide film on an inner wall of the trench; the inner wall oxidizing step being performed by wet oxidization with a low concentration of moisture mixed in oxygen to form the oxide film so that a stress caused between the oxide film and the silicon substrate is not greater than 3.5×109 (dyne/cm2) and a radius at a corner of the trench is 8 nm or more.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a trench for device isolation on a silicon substrate; and annealing the silicon substrate in an atmosphere containing a noble gas at any step after the growth of a buried oxide film until the growth of a gate polysilicon.

Abstract: A treated stainless steel is used as the material of construction for parts of an apparatus exposed to an organic amine. The stainless steel is treated by cleaning the stainless steel, forming a colored oxide film on the surface of the cleaned stainless steel by heating the cleaned stainless steel in an oxidizing atmosphere, and removing a portion of the colored oxide film to expose a passivating oxide film.

Abstract: This invention relates to a chemical method of effectively decontaminating metallic wastes that have been contaminated by radioactive substances and which have resulted from the demolition of nuclear power plants or reactors in operation. The method is that when the increase in the amount of dissolution of metal ions from the wastes causes the potential of the aqueous sulfuric acid to increase beyond a certain level, the dissolved metal ions are reduced electrolytically to control the potential of said aqueous sulfuric acid to become lower than said certain level.

Abstract: An electrode comprising a carbonaceous material including carbon fibers, which are bound together by means of carbon atoms. It is preferable that 10-50 w/w % of the carbonaceous material are short carbon fibers 2-20 mm long, which are dispersed and stacked in random directions substantially in a two-dimensional plane and shaped into a plate or sheet, in which the fibers bind to each other by means of carbon atoms to form a carbonaceous electrode. The invention further comprises the method of compressive and electro-osmotic dehydration, wherein direct current is flowed between the electrode, and the polarity is reversed after each predetermined amount of current flow.

Abstract: A dehydrator comprising a filter press including a pair of first and second, electrically insulating press plates supported in parallel on a frame and adapted to be moved relative to each other. Each of the press plates has a wide recess, the recesses forming a closed space between them when they engage. A pair of filter cloths for enclosing feed liquid are provided between the plates. An electricaly insulating diaphragm is fixed at its margin to the first press plate, covers the associated recess, and is adapted to swell outwardly with compressed fluid collected between the diaphragm and the first plate. A metal core plate is embedded within the diaphragm to reinforce it except for its marginal portion, and the core plate is connected to one of the positive and negative poles of an electric DC power source. Electric conductors are fixed in electric connection to the core plate, and project outwardly through the diaphragm.

Abstract: A color original is picked up by a pickup head and B, G, and R image signals are obtained and supplied to a color process circuit including masking correction, under-color removal, and gradation correction circuits. Y, M, C, and K image signals output from the color process circuit are supplied to an exposure head to form a color separation plate. A print simulation unit having first and second frame memories is connected in parallel with the color process circuit. The B, G, and R signals are also written into the first frame memory. The signal read out from the first frame memory is supplied to the color process circuit and is color-corrected. The output from the color process circuit is written into the second frame memory and output to a color monitor. The second frame memory stores two frames, and can display both frames on the color monitor for comparison.

Abstract: In the overcurrent tripping unit for a circuit breaker, current transformers are provided for detecting currents flowing through respective phases of a main circuit, the secondary outputs of the current transformers are star connected, the primary outputs are polyphase full-wave rectified, the voltage drop based on the rectified positive/negative direct output of each phase is directed by first and second resistances to be applied to the control means, and a ground fault current is detected based on the secondary outputs of the current transformers to be applied to the control means.

Abstract: A stable aqueous dispersion of unexpectedly high molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene, containing no additives such as dispersing and emulsifying agents, is prepared by radiation-polymerizating tetrafluoroethylene monomer in an aqueous phase in the absence of dispersing or emulsifying agent.