Abstract: A thin film transistor comprises an insulator interposed between a gate electrode and a polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, with the polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer having a source region and a drain region with a channel between the source region and the drain region. The insulator comprises an ONO structure having an interfacial oxide layer in contact with the polycrystalline silicon semiconductor layer, a cap oxide layer in contact with the gate electrode, and a nitride layer interposed between the interfacial oxide layer and the nitride layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a semiconductor film, includes the steps of: (a) forming an amorphous semiconductor film on a substrate having a surface with an insulating property; (b) introducing a material for accelerating crystallization of the amorphous semiconductor film into at least a part of the amorphous semiconductor film; (c) crystallizing the amorphous semiconductor film by heating to obtain a crystalline semiconductor film from the amorphous semiconductor film; and (d) oxidizing a surface of the crystalline semiconductor film to form a semiconductor oxide film containing a part of the material for accelerating the crystallization on the surface of the crystalline semiconductor film.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a thin film transistor includes the steps of: forming a semiconductor layer and a gate electrode on an insulating substrate with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween; and implanting an impurity element into a surface of the semiconductor layer by accelerating hydrogen ions and ions of an element of the group III or the group V of the periodic table using at least one of the gate electrode and a resist mask used for forming the gate electrode as a mask, so as to perform both formation of source and drain regions and hydrogenation of a channel region, wherein the concentration of hydrogen ions in the channel region of the semiconductor layer is regulated in the range of 1.times.10.sup.19 ions/cm.sup.3 to 1.times.10.sup.20 ions/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: A resistance welding control method capable of reducing generation of spatter to the utmost during consumption of electrodes, thereby obtaining a desired nugget and assuring excellent welding quality and controlling with ease.

Abstract: A method for producing a polycrystalline semiconductor film is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a semiconductor film on a substrate; forming a passivation film on the semiconductor film; exciting a mixed gas including hydrogen and at least one element selected from the group consisting of the III, IV, and V groups of the periodic table to generate hydrogen ions and ions of the at least one element; and implanting the hydrogen ions into the semiconductor film through the passivation film and simultaneously implanting the ions of the at least one element into the semiconductor film through the passivation film, thereby changing the semiconductor film into a polycrystalline semiconductor film having the at least one element.

Abstract: An ion implantation apparatus having a plasma source for generating ions, an ion accelerator for accelerating the generated ions, and a substrate holder provided on a position which the accelerated ions irradiate, wherein a current density of a desired kind of ions is measured by an electromagnetic ion energy analyzer having an electric field and a magnetic field, thereby controlling a dose of the ions.

Abstract: An electrode pattern forming method comprising the steps of: forming a transparent conductive film on a substrate, covering said transparent conductive film with an aluminum film, forming a resist material film for etching on said aluminum film, exposing said resist material film followed by developing by immersing said substrate in an electrolyte to form a resist pattern, and patterning said aluminum film using said resist pattern as a mask;the formation of said resist pattern in said electrolyte being conducted with another transparent conductive film which is in direct contact with said electrolyte and electrically connected to said aluminum film.

Abstract: In order to determine the characteristics of combustion which takes place in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, the pressure in the chamber is sampled at predetermined intervals over a predetermined sampling range, the values are mathematically processed in a manner to obtain the position of center of gravity for the instant combustion and the COG position is then compared with pre-recorded data to determine the actual nature of the combustion. Embodiments of the invention improve on the COG position derivation by screening the data with respect to the highest of the sampled values or modifying all of the data with respect to the lowest of the sampled values.

Abstract: There is disclosed a welding transformer control apparatus capable of controlling the voltage supplied to the primary winding of the welding transformer. The welding transformer control apparatus comprises a voltage detecting circuit connected to the thyristor for detecting a power voltage and a digital operation unit connected to the voltage detecting circuit via an A/D converter for receiving the digital converted power voltage. The digital operation unit is also connected to a voltage setting unit for receiving a predetermined voltage to be supplied to the primary winding of the welding transformer. The digital operation unit compares the predetermined voltage supplied from the voltage setting unit with the power voltage supplied from the A/D converter and provides a signal to suppress the power voltage under the predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A TFTs fabricating process practicable at a low temperature, which includes the steps of forming a multi-layer body on a substrate, the multi-layer body including a semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer and a lower thin layer, patterning the multi-layer body into islands, thereby removing the other portions of the multi-layer body, forming an insulating layer on the sides of the island-patterned multi-layered portion by etching at a selective ratio between the constituents of the insulating layer and the lower thin layer, forming an upper thin layer, and etching the upper and lower thin layers into upper and lower gate electrodes by use of one resist pattern.

Abstract: There is described an inverter type resistance welding machine comprising one rectifier, one inverter connected in series to the rectifier, and a plurality of welding current elements connected in series between a plurality of welding transformers and an output of one inverter. It is possible to reduce the space of installation of the resistance welding machine and cost involved in the installation thereof and reduce a weld time.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resistance measuring mechanism in a resistance welding machine for calculating a resistance value in an arbitrary portion of the resistance welding machine. The resistance measuring mechanism comprises means for detecting temperature of an exit through which cold water for cooling a cable flows and the temperature of parts of cables, means for detecting voltage at a secondary or a primary winding of a welding transformer and means for detecting welding current at the secondary or the primary winding of the welding transformer characterized in that resistance value at a measuring temperature is calculated by correcting the resultant detected temperature, voltage, welding current for voltage, welding current at a reference temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a multi-cylinder type internal combustion engine including first and second cylinder groups each includinhg at least one cylinder. The apparatus comprises sensors for generating electrical signals indicative of engine operating conditions including engine speed, and a control circuit coupled to the sensors for determining an appropriate value repetitively at uniform intervals. This calculation is made according to the engine operating conditions. A fuel supply device is coupled to the control circuit for supplying fuel to the first and second cylinder groups in an amount corresponding to the calculated value. The control circuit operates the fuel supply device to alternatively terminate the fuel delivery to the first cylinder group and the fuel delivery to the second cylinder group under an overspeed condition.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for an internal combustion engine mounted in a vehicle are disclosed in which a limit value for the ignition timing value is provided so that a difference between a current ignition timing and a previous ignition timing is within the limit value and the limit value is set according to a magnitude of an engine acceleration. For example, when an abrupt engine acceleration occurs, the limit value is set to 15 degrees. When the engine is in a steady state (no abrupt acceleration from an idling condition), the limit value is set to four degrees. Therefore, no vehicle body shock occurs due to the abrupt change in an engine output torque caused by the abrupt change in the ignition timing and a response characteristic of a rise in the engine output torque during the abrupt acceleration can be assured.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an ignition timing for an internal combustion engine. In the ignition timing control system and method, with a retardation angle correction amount stored as a learning value according to an engine operating region, a newly learned learning value is used as the retardation angle correction amount so that an optimum retardation angle correction amount can be provided regardless of an individual difference in engine performance and of an operating environment. Consequently, an effective suppression of occurrence of engine knocking can be achieved and engine performance and fuel economy can be improved. In addition, since the updating of the learning value is inhibited only when an engine revolutional speed is increased, an opportunity of updating the learning value is increased so that the learning value can always be set at optimum.

Abstract: A basic target spark timing is determined in accordance with an operating condition of an engine. A spark timing knock corrective value is determined in accordance with the presence or absence of a knock in the engine. A spark timing learning corrective value is determined in accordance with the spark timing knock corrective value and with the engine operating condition. When a transitional condition of the engine is detected, the spark timing knock corrective value is fixed to a preset value independent of the presence or absence of the knock and also independent of the engine operating condition. A final target spark timing is determined in accordance with the basic target spark timing, the spark timing knock corrective value, and the spark timing learning corrective value. A spark is generated in the engine at a timing in agreement with the final target spark timing.

Abstract: A spark ignition timing control system takes a feature of storing spark advance angle data in MBT mode upon switching control mode from MBT mode to anti-knock level exceeding a predetermined level. The stored spark advance angle is read and set as initial spark advance angle upon resuming MBT mode control after anti-knock mode control. It may also be possible to vary the spark advance angle value to be used as initial spark advance angle in resumption of the MBT control according to variation of the spark advance angle in anti-knock mode control. Variation of the stored advance angle according to regarding magnitude of the spark advance in anti-knock mode will prevent the spark ignition timing control from causing hunting in switching of the control mode.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine, in which a value correlative to an engine output is detected, a target value of the engine output correlative value (preferably a pseudo value corresponding to an indicated mean effective pressure) is calculated on the basis of an angular displacement of an accelerator pedal and engine speed, the detected value correlative to the engine output is compared with the target value, an opening angle of a throttle valve located within a throttle chamber of the engine for adjusting an intake air quantity supplied to the engine according to its opening angle is calculated on the basis of the comparison result, and the throttle valve is actuated to adjust the intake air quantity according to the calculated opening angle so that the detected value correlative to the engine output coincides with the target value.

Abstract: A center-tapped transformer apparatus with rectifiers is adapted to permit first and second secondary electrode plates to be joined with a secondary coil on the fronts of both ends thereof, on the front of the electrode plates of the secondary coil an electrode plate connected to an output terminal, the other rectifier, and a frontal electrode plate electrically connected to the second secondary electrode plate via a connecting tool being arranged in order and bound to each other.

Abstract: A system for detecting and controlling an engine knocking the determination of occurrence of knocking is based on a present data on the detected pressure vibration energy in a combustion chamber of the engine and a value associated with a previous data on the detected pressure vibration energy in the combustion chamber so that an accurate detection of engine knocking can always be achieved. Furthermore, the knocking can be discriminated from the background noise even when the engine revolution speed is high.