Abstract: A piston ring includes: a refined steel including: carbon C in a range of 0.20% mass to 0.90% mass, silicon Si in a range of 0.10% mass to less than 0.60% mass, manganese Mn in a range of 0.20% mass to 1.50% mass, chromium Cr in a range of 0.30% mass to 2.00% mass, and a remnant including: iron Fe, and an unavoidable impurity. A parameter A calculated from the following expression (1) based on contents of the Si, Mn and Cr is 9.0 or less: parameter A=8.8 Si+1.6 Mn+1.7 Cr—expression (1). A parameter B calculated from the following expression (2) based on contents of the C, Si, Mn and Cr is 10.8 or more: parameter B=36 C+4.2 Si+3.8 Mn+4.5 Cr—expression (2).

Abstract: An image reading device includes a memory unit for storing positional information of a sensor for moving by a drive unit to read an image of a document and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to move the sensor based on the positional information stored in the memory unit. The control unit drives the drive unit by an amount of driving sufficient for an image reading unit to move in a predetermined direction to abut the stop members, controls the drive unit to move the sensor so as to detect the position mark, and updates the positional information of the memory unit to a predetermined initial value based on the detection of the position mark by the sensor. The image reading device can store data of a reference position promptly even if a photo-interrupter is not provided when the data of the reference position is not stored in a memory unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first-conductivity-type SiC substrate, a first-conductivity-type SiC semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, whose impurity concentration is lower than that of the substrate, a first electrode formed on the semiconductor layer and forming a Schottky junction with the semiconductor layer, a barrier height of the Schottky junction being 1 eV or less, plural second-conductivity-type junction barriers formed to contact the first electrode and each having a depth d1 from an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, a width w, and a space s between adjacent ones of the junction barriers, a second-conductivity-type edge termination region formed outside the junction barriers to contact the first electrode and having a depth d2 from the upper surface of the semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein following relations are satisfied d1/d2?1, s/d1?0.6, and s/(w+s)?0.33.

Abstract: A process for producing an inexpensive large high-quality GaN substrate which comprises forming a MgO buffer layer on a high-quality substrate, generating a ZnO layer on the MgO buffer layer while performing polarity control, growing a GaN layer on the ZnO layer while performing polarity control, and melting the ZnO layer, thereby producing a GaN substrate.

Abstract: A turning behavior control apparatus and turning behavior control process for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to set a target vehicle turning behavior (such as the target side slip angle and the target yaw rate) in accordance with a driver's steering operation, to independently set a target vehicle yaw direction, to modify the target vehicle turning behavior in accordance with the target vehicle yaw direction, to calculate target front and rear wheel steer angles in accordance with the modified target turning behavior and to control steer mechanisms in accordance therewith.

Abstract: An image noise reducing method that can properly reduce both block noise and mosquito noise without deterioration of the image quality is provided. The method includes creating a first luminance component image data with the boundaries of the blocks thereof smoothened, creating a second luminance component image data with its entirety smoothened from the first luminance component image data, creating edge image data by subtracting the second luminance component image data from the first luminance component image data, creating corrected edge image data by applying correction to the edge image data under given conditions, and creating third luminance component image data by adding the corrected edge image data to the second luminance component image data. For color-difference component image data, first color-difference component image data with its entirety smoothened is created from the color-difference component image data.

Abstract: An image noise reducing method that can properly reduce CCD noise which emerges in an image imported from a digital camera is provided. The method includes applying a first filtering step to luminance component image data of the image with each pixel of the luminance component image data being designated as a target pixel, thereby creating luminance component image data with its entirety smoothened, and applying a second filtering step to color-difference component image data of the image with each pixel of the color-difference component image data being designated as a target pixel, thereby creating color-difference component image data with its entirety smoothened.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first-conductivity-type SiC substrate, a first-conductivity-type SiC semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, whose impurity concentration is lower than that of the substrate, a first electrode formed on the semiconductor layer and forming a Schottky junction with the semiconductor layer, a barrier height of the Schottky junction being 1 eV or less, plural second-conductivity-type junction barriers formed to contact the first electrode and each having a depth d1 from an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, a width w, and a space s between adjacent ones of the junction barriers, a second-conductivity-type edge termination region formed outside the junction barriers to contact the first electrode and having a depth d2 from the upper surface of the semiconductor layer, and a second electrode formed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein following relations are satisfied d1/d2?1, s/d1?0.6, and s/(w+s)?0.33.

Abstract: A video-audio recording and reproducing apparatus (101) has a built-in stereo microphone (21a, 21b) and an external microphone connection terminal (32). The external microphone connection terminal (32) is connected to a binaural microphone (3) to be attached to the ears of a photographer (300). When the binaural microphone (3) is used to collect ambient sounds, an audio signal to be recorded on a recording medium is switched from an audio signal from the built-in stereo microphone (21a, 21b) to a binaural audio signal from the binaural microphone (3). The photographer (300) puts the binaural microphone (3 (31a, 31b)) on his or her ears and collects ambient sounds around the photographer (300) including a sound emanating from an object. The object is photographed with a camera unit (11). The recording medium records the binaural audio signal, a photographed video signal, and a binaural flag signal.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy-made part of the present invention includes an aluminum alloy, and an anodic oxide coating which coats a surface of the aluminum alloy and contains at least one of silver and copper. The aluminum alloy-made part is capable of enhancing the heat conduction performance in the interface between the anodic oxide coating and the base material and the heat radiation performance on the surface of the part concerned, thereby making it possible to make the heat resistance and the adhesion resistance compatible with good beat conductivity and good heat radiation property.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a memory unit for storing positional information of a sensor for moving by a drive unit to read an image of a document and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to move the sensor based on the positional information stored in the memory unit. The control unit drives the drive unit by an amount of driving sufficient for an image reading unit to move in a predetermined direction to abut the stop members, controls the drive unit to move the sensor so as to detect the position mark, and updates the positional information of the memory unit to a predetermined initial value based on the detection of the position mark by the sensor. The image reading device can store data of a reference position promptly even if a photo-interrupter is not provided when the data of the reference position is not stored in a memory unit.

Abstract: A process for producing an inexpensive large high-quality GaN substrate which comprises forming a MgO buffer layer on a high-quality substrate, generating a ZnO layer on the MgO buffer layer while performing polarity control, growing a GaN layer on the ZnO layer while performing polarity control, and melting the ZnO layer, thereby producing a GaN substrate.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a memory unit for storing positional information of a sensor for moving by a drive unit to read an image of a document and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to move the sensor based on the positional information stored in the memory unit. The control unit drives the drive unit by an amount of driving sufficient for an image reading unit to move in a predetermined direction to abut the stop members, controls the drive unit to move the sensor so as to detect the position mark, and updates the positional information of the memory unit to a predetermined initial value based on the detection of the position mark by the sensor. The image reading device can store data of a reference position promptly even if a photo-interrupter is not provided when the data of the reference position is not stored in a memory unit.

Abstract: An image processor includes an image processing section, an enlargement processing section, and a controller.

Abstract: An image noise reducing method that can properly reduce CCD noise which emerges in an image imported from a digital camera is provided.

Abstract: An image noise reducing method that can properly reduce both block noise and mosquito noise without deterioration of the image quality is provided. The method includes creating a first luminance component image data with the boundaries of the blocks thereof smoothened, creating a second luminance component image data with its entirety smoothened from the first luminance component image data, creating edge image data by subtracting the second luminance component image data from the first luminance component image data, creating corrected edge image data by applying correction to the edge image data under given conditions, and creating third luminance component image data by adding the corrected edge image data to the second luminance component image data. For color-difference component image data, first color-difference component image data with its entirety smoothened is created from the color-difference component image data.

Abstract: In an apparatus for creating an all-around acoustic field, a producing section (4) is composed of a selecting section (41) for selecting one pair of right and left head transfer functions at an angle corresponding to an arriving direction of a reflected sound out of data of head transfer functions in whole directions stored in a storage section (5) on the basis of data of arriving directions of reflected sounds, an equalizing section (42) for equalizing a pair of right and left head transfer functions selected by the selecting section (41) by using frequency characteristic data of reflected sounds, a delaying section (43) for delaying the pair of right and left head transfer functions equalized by the equalizing section (42) by using delay time until a reflected sound arrives at a sound receiving point, and an adding section (44) for obtaining two channels of right and left impulse responses by accumulating the delayed pair of right and left head transfer responses.

Abstract: An image feeding apparatus for feeding sheets by separating sheets one by one by a separating device has a pickup arm and a stopper. The uppermost document of stacking documents to be copied contacts and downwardly press down the pickup arm, and then the pickup arm and the uppermost document downwardly press down the stopper so as to make a passage of the uppermost document. After the uppermost document passes through, the stopper ascents by gravity in response to elevation of the pickup arm. The stopper can be reliably operated by a simple and low-cost construction.

Abstract: An image reading device includes a memory unit for storing positional information of a sensor for moving by a drive unit to read an image of a document and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to move the sensor based on the positional information stored in the memory unit. The control unit drives the drive unit by an amount of driving sufficient for an image reading unit to move in a predetermined direction to abut the stop members, controls the drive unit to move the sensor so as to detect the position mark, and updates the positional information of the memory unit to a predetermined initial value based on the detection of the position mark by the sensor. The image reading device can store data of a reference position promptly even if a photo-interrupter is not provided when the data of the reference position is not stored in a memory unit.

Abstract: An image feeding apparatus for feeding sheets by separating sheets one by one by a separating device has a pickup arm and a stopper. The uppermost document of stacking documents to be copied contacts and downwardly press down the pickup arm, and then the pickup arm and the uppermost document downwardly press down the stopper so as to make a passage of the uppermost document. After the uppermost document passes through, the stopper ascents by gravity in response to elevation of the pickup arm. The stopper can be reliably operated by a simple and low-cost construction.