Abstract: The process for producing hydrocarbons of the present invention comprises a thermal cracking process for heating a furnace tube composed of a multi-layered heat resistant metal tube comprising a substrate tube composed of a heat resistant metal and a surface layer of a Cr—Ni alloy formed on an inner surface of the substrate tube to a predetermined temperature, and supplying a hydrocarbon raw material gas into the furnace tube to thermally decompose the hydrocarbon raw material gas; a decoking process for removing coke accumulated on the inner surface of the furnace tube; and a furnace tube replacement process for performing replacement of the furnace tube after the lapse of an operation time longer than the life of the substrate tube in the case of performing the thermal cracking under the same condition by use of a furnace tube composed of only the substrate tube.

Abstract: A chip-type light-emitting semiconductor device includes: a substrate 4; a blue LED 1 mounted on the substrate 4; and a luminescent layer 3 made of a mixture of yellow/yellowish phosphor particles 2 and a base material 13 (translucent resin). The yellow/yellowish phosphor particles 2 is a silicate phosphor which absorbs blue light emitted by the blue LED 1 to emit a fluorescence having a main emission peak in the wavelength range from 550 nm to 600 nm, inclusive, and which contains, as a main component, a compound expressed by the chemical formula: (Sr1-a1-b1-xBaa1Cab1Eux)2SiO4 (0?a1?0.3, 0?b1?0.8 and 0<x<1). The silicate phosphor particles disperse substantially evenly in the resin easily. As a result, excellent white light is obtained.

Abstract: A communication system having a plurality of artificial satellites each having a communication unit traveling on elliptical orbits with an orbital period of 24 hours. Arguments of perigee are set to values with a predetermined allowance in a setting process of the plurality of artificial satellites.

Abstract: The semiconductor light emitting device is composed of a combination of a near ultraviolet LED and a phosphor layer including a plurality of phosphors for absorbing near ultraviolet emitted by the near ultraviolet LED and for emitting fluorescence having an emission peak in a visible wavelength region, and the phosphor layer includes four kinds of phosphors, that is, a blue-based phosphor, a green-based phosphor, a red-based phosphor and a yellow-based phosphor. Thus, lowering of luminous flux derived from red-based light with low luminosity is compensated by yellow-based light with comparatively high luminosity, and the resultant white-based light can be well color balanced, and hence, a semiconductor light emitting device emitting white-based light with high luminous flux and a large Ra can be obtained.

Abstract: A transmission or communication system, wherein plural individual elliptical orbits are so defined that an individual right ascension of a north-bound node is established with a designated angle. An artificial satellite is travels on a respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbit and a group of artificial satellites arranged on respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbits are used so that at least one of the artificial satellites having a communication system is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. The group of artificial satellites are on respective orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of the individual elliptical orbit so that a right ascension of north-bound node is a designated angle and a time period during which respective ones of the group of artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical.

Abstract: A positioning system offers positioning information on the basis of a signal transmitted from a quasi-zenith satellite. Multiple reference stations disposed on the ground receive signals from a plurality of positioning satellites. A communication station corrects the signals the reference stations have received, and transmits them to the quasi-zenith satellite. A positioning information offering apparatus transmits the signal received from the quasi-zenith satellite and a positional information to a positioning apparatus.

Abstract: In a light emitting diode, a scattering material-containing light guiding/scattering layer is provided which directly receives light emitted from a light emitting element. The scattering material contained in the light guiding/scattering layer irregularly reflects and scatters the incident light. The scattered light is led to a fluorescence emitting layer formed of a transparent binder containing a phosphor material. The probability of incidence of light having high optical density, which has been emitted from the light emitting element, directly to the phosphor material contained in the fluorescence emitting layer is lowered, and light can be radiated from the whole fluorescence emitting layer. Therefore, uniform light having a desired color can be radiated with high efficiency from the light emitting diode.

Abstract: A communication terminal for communicating through an artificial satellite, wherein the artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which an individual satellite orbits on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. A group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of said elliptical orbit so that a time period during which an artificial satellite is viewable from ground is substantially identical and the communication terminal has a transmitter and receiver for transmitting and receiving a signal through the group of artificial satellites.

Abstract: A communication/broadcasting system provides a communication service and/or a broadcasting service between a communication/broadcasting center station and a mobile station and a fixed station present in a beam spot through orbiting satellites controlled by a satellite control station in order to prevent a degraded quality and permit users to receive the provision of the services at any location in a service area through the satellite positioned at an elevation angle suitable for communications/broadcasting. The orbiting satellite is switched to another at a timing at which the elevation angle can be kept high, thereby preventing a degraded quality of communications/broadcasting.

Abstract: In a mobile communication using satellites, the present invention allows a mobile to receive a service wherever it is. To do so, when positioning the current location of a mobile using a satellite that sends the GPS signal, the mobile receives an electric wave directly from the satellite for performing positioning when the electric wave can be received directly from the satellite. On the other hand, when an electric wave cannot be received directly from the satellite, the mobile receives an electric wave from a pseudo-satellite or performs positioning using a wireless network between other mobiles and the mobile. Positioning may also be performed using an indoor wireless network.

Abstract: A chip-type light-emitting semiconductor device includes: a substrate 4; a blue LED 1 mounted on the substrate 4; and a luminescent layer 3 made of a mixture of yellow/yellowish phosphor particles 2 and a base material 13 (translucent resin). The yellow/yellowish phosphor particles 2 is a silicate phosphor which absorbs blue light emitted by the blue LED 1 to emit a fluorescence having a main emission peak in the wavelength range from 550 nm to 600 nm, inclusive, and which contains, as a main component, a compound expressed by the chemical formula: (Sr1−a1−b1−xBaa1Cab1Eux)2SiO4 (0≦a1≦0.3, 0≦b1≦0.8 and 0<x<1). The silicate phosphor particles disperse substantially evenly in the resin easily. As a result, excellent white light is obtained.

Abstract: A composite light-emitting device according to the present invention includes a light-emitting element including a transparent substrate and a multilayer structure formed on the substrate. The multilayer structure includes first and second semiconductor layers of first and second conductivity types, respectively. The device further includes a submount member for mounting the light-emitting element thereon. The principal surface of the submount member faces the multilayer structure. The submount member is electrically connected to the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is covered with a wavelength-shifting resin member. The resin member is provided on the principal surface of the submount member and contains a photofluorescent or filtering compound. The photofluorescent compound shifts the wavelength of radiation that has been emitted from the light-emitting element, while the filtering compound partially absorbs the radiation.

Abstract: A communication line not affected by artificial structures and plants is established between mobile objects and stationary stations surrounded with skyscrapers, and economical artificial satellite service capable of efficiently performing satellite broadcast, mobile satellite communication, satellite-to-satellite communication and earth surveillance is provided using the communication line and by constructing the system with a small number of satellites. Six orbital elements 7-12 of a plurality of artificial satellites at reference time 5 are determined, and a plurality of elliptical orbits corresponding to the determined six orbital elements are combined, and then each of the satellites is appropriately arranged on each of the orbits to form a group of artificial satellites. Satellite communication or satellite broadcast is performed using the group of artificial satellites.

Abstract: In a light emitting diode, a scattering material-containing light guiding/scattering layer is provided which directly receives light emitted from a light emitting element. The scattering material contained in the light guiding/scattering layer irregularly reflects and scatters the incident light. The scattered light is led to a fluorescence emitting layer formed of a transparent binder containing a phosphor material. The probability of incidence of light having high optical density, which has been emitted from the light emitting element, directly to the phosphor material contained in the fluorescence emitting layer is lowered, and light can be radiated from the whole fluorescence emitting layer. Therefore, uniform light having a desired color can be radiated with high efficiency from the light emitting diode.

Abstract: A broadcasting or transmitting system using an artificial satellite. The artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which individual artificial satellites orbit on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angles in a zenith direction from a service area. A group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective different orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of said elliptical orbit so that a time period during which one artificial satellite of the group of the artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical to a time period during which another artificial satellite of the group is viewable from the ground.

Abstract: A communication line not affected by artificial structures and plants is established between mobile objects and stationary stations surrounded with skyscrapers, and economical artificial satellite service capable of efficiently performing satellite broadcast, mobile satellite communication, satellite-to-satellite communication and earth surveillance is provided using the communication line and by constructing the system with a small number of satellites.

Abstract: A broadcasting or transmitting system using an artificial satellite. The artificial satellite is placed into an orbit in which individual artificial satellites orbit on an elliptical orbit so that at least one of the artificial satellites is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angles in a zenith direction from a service area. A group of the artificial satellites are satellites on respective different orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of said elliptical orbit so that a time period during which one artificial satellite of the group of the artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical to a time period during which another artificial satellite of the group is viewable from the ground.

Abstract: A transmission or communication system, wherein plural individual elliptical orbits are so defined that an individual right ascension of a north-bound node is established with a designated angle. An artificial satellite is travels on a respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbit and a group of artificial satellites arranged on respective ones of the plural individual elliptical orbits are used so that at least one of the artificial satellites having a communication system is always viewable within a pre-defined range of operational elevational angle in a zenith direction from a service area. The group of artificial satellites are on respective orbits obtained by combining an inclination angle and an eccentricity squared of the individual elliptical orbit so that a right ascension of north-bound node is a designated angle and a time period during which respective ones of the group of artificial satellites is viewable from ground is substantially identical.

Abstract: An information providing method and apparatus for providing information to a moving body via an artificial satellite. Information for selecting a desired information and position information of the moving body is transmitted, from the moving body. Information is provided to the moving body from the artificial satellite depending upon the position information of the moving body and the desired information, on the basis of information from the moving body.

Abstract: A composite light-emitting device according to the present invention includes a light-emitting element including a transparent substrate and a multilayer structure formed on the substrate. The multilayer structure includes first and second semiconductor layers of first and second conductivity types, respectively. The device further includes a submount member for mounting the light-emitting element thereon. The principal surface of the submount member faces the multilayer structure. The submount member is electrically connected to the light-emitting element. The light-emitting element is covered with a wavelength-shifting resin member. The resin member is provided on the principal surface of the submount member and contains a photofluorescent or filtering compound. The photofluorescent compound shifts the wavelength of radiation that has been emitted from the light-emitting element, while the filtering compound partially absorbs the radiation.