Abstract: An estimation system generates, from a value of a time series of an estimation object in a past period, a plurality of patterns of a transition of a value of the estimation object. Based on the plurality of generated patterns and a value of a time series of a factor in the past period, the estimation system specifies a dependency relationship between a transition pattern and a value of the factor and a transition pattern at a past (or future) time point and identifies a model in accordance with the specified dependency relationship. By inputting a value of a time series of the factor in a future period to the estimation model, the estimation system specifies a time series of a value in the future period of the estimation object using at least one transition pattern.

Abstract: A vibration monitoring device includes: a rotation sensor for outputting a rotation signal synchronized with rotation of a rotational shaft; an output device for outputting a filter command value corresponding to a rotation speed of the rotational shaft calculated from the rotation signal; and at least one filter for extracting, in response to input of the rotation signal and the filter command value, a signal in a passband set according to the filter command value from the rotation signal as a vibration signal from which vibration information of the rotational shaft can be obtained.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an immunomodulating agent in gut that can be ingested continuously in daily diet without adverse side effect. The object is attained by providing an immunomodulating agent in gut comprising a cyclic tetrasaccharide as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an immunomodulating agent in gut that can be ingested continuously in daily diet without adverse side effect. The object is attained by providing an immunomodulating agent in gut comprising a cyclic tetrasaccharide as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump 100 comprises a thermoelement CSD 47 for advancing injection timing in a cold temperature condition. The CSD 47 uses a piston 46 for opening and closing a sub port 42 formed in a plunger barrel 8. An electronic governor 2 is provided with a mechanism for decreasing an injected fuel quantity when an engine starts in a cold temperature condition. The mechanism shifts a rack position in a fuel-decrease direction in a cold temperature condition, and switches the rack position to a normal position in a normal temperature condition. A timing TR for shifting the rack position is set before or simultaneous to a timing TC for switch-off of the CSD 47.

Abstract: The directional coupler switch is configured by a parallel waveguide including a first region which is subjected to a nonlinear action and a second region which is not subjected to a nonlinear action. A dispersion relationship of the first region is varied due to the nonlinear action to switch over an exit of light entering from an input side to cause the switch to function as an optical switch. A dispersion curve of the first region has: a region of a constant frequency in one of an even mode and an odd mode which are two kinds of eigen modes of the parallel waveguide; and a region in which gradients of the two eigen modes at frequencies belonging to a region other than the region of a constant frequency are substantially equal to each other. The gradients of the two kinds of eigen modes indicate monotone decreasing or monotone increasing.

Abstract: The directional coupler switch is configured by a parallel waveguide including a first region which is subjected to a nonlinear action and a second region which is not subjected to a nonlinear action. A dispersion relationship of the first region is varied due to the nonlinear action to switch over an exit of light entering from an input side to cause the switch to function as an optical switch. A dispersion curve of the first region has: a region of a constant frequency in one of an even mode and an odd mode which are two kinds of eigen modes of the parallel waveguide; and a region in which gradients of the two eigen modes at frequencies belonging to a region other than the region of a constant frequency are substantially equal to each other. The gradients of the two kinds of eigen modes indicate monotone decreasing or monotone increasing.

Abstract: A fuel injection pump 100 comprises a thermoelement CSD 47 for advancing injection timing in a cold temperature condition. The CSD 47 uses a piston 46 for opening and closing a sub port 42 formed in a plunger barrel 8. An electronic governor 2 is provided with a mechanism for decreasing an injected fuel quantity when an engine starts in a cold temperature condition. The mechanism shifts a rack position in a fuel-decrease direction in a cold temperature condition, and switches the rack position to a normal position in a normal temperature condition. A timing TR for shifting the rack position is set before or simultaneous to a timing TC for switch-off of the CSD 47.

Abstract: A start assister (10) of a fuel injection pump, comprising a piston (46) inlayed into a housing (H), an upper chamber (49) formed over the piston (46), lower chamber (48) formed under the piston (46), wherein a sub port (42) is opened and closed by sliding of the piston (46), and a fuel injection timing is advanced by closing the sub port (42). A thermo-element (61) for sliding the piston is arranged on one side of the piston (46) in sliding direction. A telescopic pin (61a) of the thermo-element (61) is arranged in a low-pressure chamber (50) divided into the upper chamber and the lower chamber, and a connection pin (62) is interposed between the telescopic pin (61a) and the piston (46).

Abstract: A start assister (10) of a fuel injection pump, comprising a piston (46) inlayed into a housing (H), an upper chamber (49) formed over the piston (46), lower chamber (48) formed under the piston (46), wherein a sub port (42) is opened and closed by sliding of the piston (46), and a fuel injection timing is advanced by closing the sub port (42). A thermo-element (61) for sliding the piston is arranged on one side of the piston (46) in sliding direction. A telescopic pin (61a) of the thermo-element (61) is arranged in a low-pressure chamber (50) divided into the upper chamber and the lower chamber, and a connection pin (62) is interposed between the telescopic pin (61a) and the piston (46).

Abstract: A pattern formation method and method and apparatus for production of a semiconductor device using that method which irradiate light from a light source to a phase shifting mask through a fly's-eye lens comprised of an assembly of a plurality of lenses, transfer the pattern of the phase shifting mask onto the substrate, and form the pattern on the substrate, wherein the amount of light made incident upon the center portion of the fly's-eye lens is lowered by 2 to 90 percent, preferably 10 to 90 percent, further preferably 20 to 80 percent or 20 to 60 percent, relative to the amount of light incident upon the peripheral portion of the fly's-eye lens.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus, wherein at least one of optical members constituting an exposure light source system, an illuminating optical system, a photomask and a projection optical system, is made of a synthetic quartz glass for an optical member, which has an absorption coefficient of 0.70 cm−1 or less at a wavelength of 157 nm and an infrared absorption peak attributable to SiOH stretching vibration at about 3640 cm−1.

Abstract: A limiter is connected with the output of a PLL to limit the amplitude of the output from the PLL. The output from limiter is supplied to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCXO). The limiter determines the difference between the input signal and the output signal. If the difference exceeds a predetermined value, the change in the output from the limiter is limited to the predetermined value. If the difference does not exceed the predetermined value, the change in the output is considered to be a difference value.

Abstract: A limiter is connected with the output of a PLL to limit the amplitude of the output from the PLL. The output from limiter is supplied to a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCXO). The limiter determines the difference between the input signal and the output signal. If the difference exceeds a predetermined value, the change in the output from the limiter is limited to the predetermined value. If the difference does not exceed the predetermined value, the change in the output is considered to be a difference value.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline silicon thin film improved in crystallinity and a channel of a transistor superior in electrical characteristics by the use of such a polycrystalline silicon thin film. An amorphous silicon layer of a thickness preferably of 30 nm to 50 nm is formed on a substrate. Next, substrate heating is performed to set the amorphous silicon layer to preferably 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C., more preferably 350.degree. C. to 450.degree. C. Then, at least the amorphous silicon layer is irradiated with laser light of an excimer laser energy density of 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 500 mJ/cm.sup.2, preferably 280 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 330 mJ/cm.sup.2, and a pulse width of 80 ns to 200 ns, preferably 140 ns to 200 ns, so as to directly anneal the amorphous silicon layer and form a polycrystalline silicon thin film. The total energy of the laser used for the irradiation of excimer laser light is at least 5 J, preferably at least 10 J.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline silicon thin film includes irradiating an amorphous silicon layer with laser light of an excimer laser energy density of 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 500 mJ/cm.sup.2, preferably 280 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 330 mJ/cm.sup.2, and a pulse width of 80 ns to 200 ns, preferably 140 ns to 200 ns, so as to directly anneal the amorphous silicon layer and form a polycrystalline silicon thin film. The total energy of the laser used for the irradiation of excimer laser light is at least 5 J, preferably at least 10 J. The laser device includes an homogenizer movably mounted at the end of the optical path of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method of determining an optimum condition of an anti-reflective layer upon forming a resist pattern by exposure with a monochromatic light, forms the anti-reflective layer with these conditions and forms a resist pattern using a novel anti-reflective layer.

Abstract: A data transmission system having, in addition to a normal system operation mode, a test mode wherein a plurality of stations confirm each other through sending and receiving check data for security confirmation and wherein the actual line switching operation is not performed. In the test mode, when notifying test data for confirmation of another station, the call terminating station side notifies the accurate data, while the call originating station side activating the test mode notifies deliberately changed check data thereby enabling a test for confirmation of the continuance of connection with a backup line without suspending communication with the working line.

Abstract: A process for production of a micropattern, comprised of a step for forming an antireflection film comprised of an inorganic film on an underlying substrate, a step for forming a resist film on said antireflection film, a step for exposing said resist film using i-rays or light of a wavelength shorter than i-ray and transferring a mask pattern to the resist film, a step for using the resist film on which the mask pattern had been transferred as a mask to etch the antireflection film and transfer the mask pattern to the antireflection film; and a step for using the antireflection film on which said mask pattern had been transferred as a mask to etch the underlying substrate and transfer the mask pattern to the underlying substrate.

Abstract: A process for formation of a metal pattern comprising the steps of forming a silicide metal film on an underlying substrate, forming an anti-reflection film on the underlying substrate on which the silicide metal film is formed, forming a resist film on the anti-reflection film, patterning the resist film by photolithography to form a predetermined pattern, and using the thus patterned resist film as a mask and etching the silicide metal film on the underlying substrate, wherein the optical constants and the thickness of the anti-reflection film are determined to give the smallest standing wave effect at the time of photolithography in accordance with the type of the silicide metal film.