Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is anodized to be shaped into an optical lens. Prior to being anodized, the substrate is finished with an anode pattern on its bottom surface so as to be consolidated into a unitary structure in which the anode pattern is precisely reproduced on the substrate. The anodization utilizes an electrolytic solution which etches out oxidized portion as soon as it is formed as a result of the anodization, to thereby develop a porous layer in a pattern in match with the anode pattern. The anode pattern brings about an in-plane distribution of varying electric field intensity by which the porous layer develops into a shape complementary to a desired lens profile. Upon completion of the anodization, the semiconductor substrate is shaped into the lens by etching out the porous layer and the anode pattern from the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is shaped to have a curved surface profile by anodization. Prior to being anodized, the substrate is finished with an anode pattern on its bottom surface so as to be consolidated into a unitary structure in which the anode pattern is precisely reproduced on the substrate. The anodization utilizes an electrolytic solution which etches out oxidized portion as soon as it is formed as a result of the anodization, to thereby develop a porous layer in a pattern in match with the anode pattern. The anode pattern brings about an in-plane distribution of varying electric field intensity by which the porous layer develops into a shape complementary to a desired surface profile. Upon completion of the anodization, the curves surface is revealed on the surface of the substrate by etching out the porous layer and the anode pattern from the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate with anode pattern is anodized to be shaped into an optical lens. The anodization utilizes an electrolytic solution which etches out oxidized portion as soon as it is formed as a result of the anodization, to thereby develop a porous layer in a pattern in match with the anode pattern. After being removed of the porous layer, the substrate is treated to smooth out minute projections remaining in the top surface of the substrate, thereby obtaining the lens of good transmissivity.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus calculates the first white balance control data on the basis of representative values of data for respective color components for at least some of image sensing data, or data of average values of the color components. The apparatus calculates the second white balance control data obtained by correcting the first white balance control data on the basis of the correlation between the first flashing information sent from an electronic flash device and the second flashing information sent from the electronic flash device in photography. The apparatus performs white balance adjustment in regular photography using the second white balance control data.

Abstract: Even when compression stress is generated because a volume of a thermal insulation layer 2 is expanded due to oxidized by oxygen in the air, occurrence of cracks and fractures of the thermal insulation layer and a heating conductor 3 caused by the cracks are prevented by dispersing the compression stress. A pressure wave generator comprises a substrate 1, the thermal insulation layer 2 of porous material which is formed on a surface of the substrate 1 in thickness direction, and the heating conductor 3 of thin film formed on the thermal insulation layer 2, and generates pressure waves by heat exchange between the heating conductor 3 and a medium.

Abstract: In an acoustic wave sensor for detecting a distance to an object and an orientation where the object is located with using acoustic waves, an acoustic wave generating device generating an acoustic wave by applying thermal impact to the air with no mechanical vibration is used as a wave transmitting device, and an electric capacitance microphone converting variation of pressure due to acoustic wave to variation of an electric signal is used as each wave receiving device. Therefore, dead zone caused by reverberation component included in the acoustic wave transmitted from the wave transmitting device and dead zone caused by reverberation component included in wave receiving signals outputted from the wave receiving devices can be shortened and angular sensitivity of the acoustic wave sensor can be increased, in comparison with a conventional acoustic wave sensor using piezoelectric devices as the wave transmitting device and the wave receiving devices.

Abstract: Even when compression stress is generated because a volume of a thermal insulation layer 2 is expanded due to oxidized by oxygen in the air, occurrence of cracks and fractures of the thermal insulation layer and a heating conductor 3 caused by the cracks are prevented by dispersing the compression stress. A pressure wave generator comprises a substrate 1, the thermal insulation layer 2 of porous material which is formed on a surface of the substrate 1 in thickness direction, and the heating conductor 3 of thin film formed on the thermal insulation layer 2, and generates pressure waves by heat exchange between the heating conductor 3 and a medium.

Abstract: A field emission-type electron source has a plurality of electron source elements (10a) formed on the side of one surface (front surface) of an insulative substrate (11) composed of a glass substrate. Each of electron source elements (10a) includes a lower electrode (12), a buffer layer (14) composed of an amorphous silicon layer formed on the lower electrode (12), a polycrystalline silicon layer (3) formed on the buffer layer (14), a strong-field drift layer (6) formed on the polycrystalline silicon layer (3), and a surface electrode (7) formed on the strong-field drift layer (6). The field emission-type electron source can achieved reduced in-plain variation in electron emission characteristics.

Abstract: A control system comprises multiple memories consuming different current amounts for operation, wherein multiple programs corresponding to different functions are stored in the memories, wherein, in accordance with a function to be processed by an operating circuit, one of the programs is read from one of the memories and is processed, and wherein, from a specific memory for which the current consumed during an operation is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount, the operating circuit reads and executes one of the programs that performs a function for which an operating time period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A field emission-type electron source has a plurality of electron source elements (10a) formed on the side of one surface (front surface) of an insulative substrate (11) composed of a glass substrate. Each of electron source elements (10a) includes a lower electrode (12), a buffer layer (14) composed of an amorphous silicon layer formed on the lower electrode (12), a polycrystalline silicon layer (3) formed on the buffer layer (14), a strong-field drift layer (6) formed on the polycrystalline silicon layer (3), and a surface electrode (7) formed on the strong-field drift layer (6). The field emission-type electron source can achieved reduced in-plain variation in electron emission characteristics.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus calculates the first white balance control data on the basis of representative values of data for respective color components for at least some of image sensing data, or data of average values of the color components. The apparatus calculates the second white balance control data obtained by correcting the first white balance control data on the basis of the correlation between the first flashing information sent from an electronic flash device and the second flashing information sent from the electronic flash device in photography. The apparatus performs white balance adjustment in regular photography using the second white balance control data.

Abstract: To reduce noise, there is provided an alternator for motor vehicles having a rotor and a stator which is mounted between a pair of brackets. In the alternator a stator core forming the stator is made up of laminations of thin sheets. And at least a part of the thin sheets making up the stator core are split into four divisions or more in the circumferential direction; the thin sheets of each layer being laid with splits thereof arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: In a field emission-type electron source (10), a strong field drift layer (6) and a surface electrode (7) consisting of a gold thin film are provided on an n-type silicon substrate (1). An ohmic electrode (2) is provided on the back surface of the n-type silicon substrate (1). A direct current voltage is applied so that the surface electrode (7) becomes positive in potential relevant to the ohmic electrode (2). In this manner, electrons injected from the ohmic electrode (2) into the strong field drift layer (6) via the n-type silicon substrate (6) drift in the strong field drift layer (6), and is emitted to the outside via the surface electrode (7).

Abstract: This invention relates to a strobe charge apparatus for charging a capacitor using a flyback transformer. This invention provides a strobe charge apparatus which has a switching element that switches when a charge current that flows through a secondary coil becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and starts energization to a first coil immediately after it is detected that the current that flows through the secondary coil disappears.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the electrochemical oxidation of a semiconductor layer. In an electrochemical oxidation treatment for the production process of an electron source 10 (field-emission type electron source) as one of electronic devices, a control section 37 determines a voltage increment due to the resistance of an electrolytic solution B in advance, based on a detected voltage from a resistance detect section 35. Then, the control section 37 controls a current source to supply a constant current so as to initiate an oxidation treatment for a semiconductor layer formed on an object 30. The control section 37 corrects a detected voltage from a voltage detect section 36 by subtracting the voltage increment therefrom. When the corrected voltage reaches a given upper voltage value, the control section 37 is operable to discontinue the output of the current source 32 and terminate the oxidation treatment.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus can change a resolution (or total number of pixels) of RAW data to a resolution (or total number of pixels) set by a user. The image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup unit for picking up an image; and a reduction unit for reducing a resolution of original image data, which is obtained by digitizing the image picked up by the image pickup unit, to a resolution set by a user before the image data is stored onto a detachable recording medium.

Abstract: An array of field emission electron sources and a method of preparing the array which discharges electrons from desired regions of a surface electrode of field emission electron sources. The field emission electron source 10 comprises an electrically conductive substrate of p-type silicon substrate 1; n-type regions 8 of stripes of diffusion layers on one of principal surfaces of the p-type silicon substrate, strong electric field drift layers 6 formed on the n-type regions 8 which is made of oxidized porous poly-silicon for drifting electrons injected from the n-type region 8; poly-silicon layers 3 between the strong field drift layers 6; surface electrodes 7 of the stripes of thin conductive film formed in a manner to cross over the stripes of the strong field drift layer 6 and the poly-silicon layers 3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the electrochemical oxidation of a semiconductor layer. In an electrochemical oxidation treatment for the production process of an electron source 10 (field-emission type electron source) as one of electronic devices, a control section 37 determines a voltage increment due to the resistance of an electrolytic solution B in advance, based on a detected voltage from a resistance detect section 35. Then, the control section 37 controls a current source to supply a constant current so as to initiate an oxidation treatment for a semiconductor layer formed on an object 30. The control section 37 corrects a detected voltage from a voltage detect section 36 by subtracting the voltage increment therefrom. When the corrected voltage reaches a given upper voltage value, the control section 37 is operable to discontinue the output of the current source 32 and terminate the oxidation treatment.

Abstract: An electron source (10) has an electron source element (10a) including a lower electrode (12), a drift layer (6) and a surface electrode (7). The drift layer (6) is interposed between the lower electrode (12) and the surface electrode (7). When a certain voltage is applied between the surface electrode (7) and the lower electrode (12) such that the surface electrode (7) has a higher potential than that of the lower electrode (12), a resultingly induced electric field allows electrons to pass through the drift layer (6) and then the electrons are emitted through the surface electrode (7). When a forward-bias voltage is applied between the surface electrode (7) and the lower electrode (12), a reverse-bias voltage is applied after the forward-bias voltage has been applied to release out of the drift layer (6) an electron captured by a trap (9) in the drift layer (6).

Abstract: A field emission-type electron source 10 includes an insulative substrate 11 in the form of a glass substrate having an electroconductive layer 8 formed thereon. A strong electrical field drift layer 6 in the form of an oxidized porous polycrystalline silicon layer is formed over the electroconductive layer 8. This electroconductive layer 8 includes a lower electroconductive film 8a, made of copper and formed on the insulative substrate 11, and an upper electroconductive film 8b made of aluminum and formed over the electroconductive film 8a. The strong electrical field drift layer 6 is formed by forming a polycrystalline silicon layer on the electroconductive layer 8, rendering the polycrystalline silicon layer to be porous and finally oxidizing it. The upper electroconductive film 8b has a property that reacts easily with silicon and, therefore, formation of an amorphous layer which would occur during formation of the polycrystalline silicon layer can be suppressed.