Abstract: In a stack structure of a CIS based thin film solar cell obtained by stacking a p-type CIS light absorbing layer, a buffer layer, and an n-type transparent conductive film in that order, the buffer layer has a stack structure of two or more layers including first and second buffer layers, the first buffer layer adjoining the p-type light absorbing layer is made of a compound containing cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), or indium (In), the second buffer layer adjoining the first buffer layer is made of a zinc oxide-based thin film, the first buffer layer has a thickness equal to or smaller than 20 nm, and the second buffer layer has a thickness equal to or larger than 100 nm

Abstract: In an integrated structure of a CIS based thin film solar cell obtained by stacking an light absorbing layer, a high-resistance buffer layer, and a window layer in that order, a first buffer layer adjoining the light absorbing layer is made of a compound containing cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), or indium (In), a second buffer layer adjoining the first buffer layer is made of a zinc oxide-based thin film, a third buffer layer is formed to cover the end face exposed by forming an interconnect pattern in the light absorbing layer, the first buffer layer, and the second buffer layer and the top end surface of the second buffer layer, and the third buffer layer is made of a zinc oxide-based thin film.

Abstract: A method of measuring dimension of a first pattern with a narrow first width, and a second pattern with a second width wider than the first width of the first pattern and formed in a symmetrical appearance with respect to a center of the second pattern, the second pattern having edges opposed to each other defining the second width, includes a step of forming a pair of first dummy patterns each having a narrow width, the pair of first dummy patterns being spaced from the edges of the second pattern respectively by a distance approximate to the first width of the first pattern, a first measurement step of measuring, using a dimension measuring device, a spaced distance of one of the first dummy patterns from the edge of the second pattern and a width of the one of the first dummy patterns within the same field of view of the dimension measuring device, a second measurement step of measuring, using the dimension measuring device, a width of the first pattern under the same measurement condition as that of the f

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a thin-film magnetic head, includes a step of forming many thin-film magnetic heads arranged along row and column directions on a wafer, each of the thin-film magnetic heads having a read head element, a write head element, and pairs of probe-use pads electrically connected with the read head element and the write head element, respectively, the pairs of probe-use pads being positioned so that at least part of each probe-use pad is removed by a cutting process along the row direction, a step of obtaining a plurality of row-bars by cutting the wafer along the row direction so that the at least part of each probe-use pad is removed, each of the obtained row-bars having the thin-film magnetic heads aligned in the row direction, a step of forming pairs of bonding pads electrically connected with the read head element and the write head element, respectively, on a surface opposite to an ABS of each thin-film magnetic head of each of the row-bars, and a step of cutting each row-bar along t

Abstract: When the image forming device receives a print job including a print condition in its header, an operation control section extracts the print condition from the header, and makes an inquiry to a server. The server extracts an order table, indicative of a priority based on the extracted print condition, from a setting table in which a priority of sheets has been set in advance in accordance with the extracted print condition, and sends the order table by return to the image forming device. In the image forming device, a tray selection section generates a tray selection signal in accordance with the received order table and a detection signal, outputted from a tray detection section, which functions as sheet storage information of a sheet feeding tray section, so as to send the tray selection signal by return to the sheet feeding tray section.

Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of suppressing an occurrence of a track erase, decreasing an influence on a magnetoresistive element caused by a magnetic flux generated from a thin film coil, and further decreasing the parasitic capacity. The thin film magnetic head has, in order in a stacked direction, a first magnetic shield layer, a magnetoresistive element, a second magnetic shield layer, a third magnetic shield layer, a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer. A width in a track width direction of at least one of the first and the second magnetic shield layers is smaller than widths in a track width direction of the third magnetic shield layer and the return yoke layer.

Abstract: A miniaturized articulated manipulator 20 has a first arm member 31A internally provided with two driving motors 33 and 34, and a second arm member 30B not provided with any devices corresponding to the driving motors 33 and 34 and capable of being miniaturized. The driving motors 33 and 34 can be disposed in common areas 135 at least partially overlapping each other with respect to a direction parallel to the axis of the first arm member 30A and can be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Thus the first arm member 30A can be formed in a small axial size. Thus the first arm 30A and the second arm 30B can be miniaturized and hence the articulated manipulator 20 can be formed in a short overall length.

Abstract: If, in the printing window displayed on the display according to the printer driver, the information processor is instructed to start printing, the control unit activates a program, displaying the main setting window at the front of the display. The main setting window shows images of resource saving buttons and a start decision button. Each of the resource saving buttons enables a user to select a printing function that can contribute to a resource saving more effectively than the already selected printing function or functions. The start decision button enables the user to decisively instruct the information processor to start the printing.

Abstract: An input signal is quantized into a quantization-resultant signal. The quantization-resultant signal is compressed into a compression-resultant signal. The compression-resultant signal is formatted into a formatting-resultant signal corresponding to a predetermined format for a digital recording disc. The formatting-resultant signal includes segments corresponding to user data areas prescribed in the predetermined format. The compression-resultant signal is placed in the segments of the formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal is encoded into an encoding-resultant signal of a CD format. The encoding-resultant signal is recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: In an audio signal encoding apparatus, a first audio signal and a second audio signal are added into an addition-result signal. The first audio signal is subtracted from the second audio signal to generate a subtraction-result signal. A first difference signal is generated which represents a difference in the addition-result signal. A second difference signal is generated which represents a difference in the subtraction-result signal. A plurality of first predictors have different prediction characteristics respectively, and are responsive to the first difference signal for generating first different prediction signals for the first difference signal, respectively. A plurality of first subtracters operate for generating first prediction-error signals representing differences between the first difference signal and the first different prediction signals, respectively. A first minimum prediction-error signal representative of a smallest difference is selected from among the first prediction-error signals.

Abstract: DVD-video data and DVD-audio data are recorded in a DVD-Avd disc. The DVD-audio data is composed of an audio manager having an audio manager information, an audio manager menu, a first audio title set including first audio data and a second audio title set including second audio data. The first audio data of the first audio title set is connected with audio contents included in the DVD-video data, and a real time information (RTI) pack or a still picture (SPCT) pack is included in the second audio title set. Therefore, the audio contents of the DVD-video data and the audio data of the DVD-audio data are managed by the audio manager information, and text information indicated by real time information or a still picture is displayed while reproducing the audio data. Also, DVD-video data recorded in a DVD-video disc, which is normally reproduced by using a reproducing apparatus dedicated to the DVD-video disc, can be reproduced by using a reproducing apparatus for the DVD-Avd disc.

Abstract: An input signal is quantized into a quantization-resultant signal. The quantization-resultant signal is compressed into a compression-resultant signal. The compression-resultant signal is formatted into a formatting-resultant signal corresponding to a predetermined format for a digital recording disc. The formatting-resultant signal includes segments corresponding to user data areas prescribed in the predetermined format. The compression-resultant signal is placed in the segments of the formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal is encoded into an encoding-resultant signal of a CD format. The encoding-resultant signal is recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: An input signal is quantized into a quantization-resultant signal. The quantization-resultant signal is compressed into a compression-resultant signal. The compression-resultant signal is formatted into a formatting-resultant signal corresponding to a predetermined format for a digital recording disc. The formatting-resultant signal includes segments corresponding to user data areas prescribed in the predetermined format. The compression-resultant signal is placed in the segments of the formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal is encoded into an encoding-resultant signal of a CD format. The encoding-resultant signal is recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: In order to manufacture a CIS-based thin film solar cell that can achieve high photoelectric conversion efficiency by adding an alkali element to a light absorbing layer easily and with good controllability, a backside electrode layer (2) is formed on a substrate (1). Then, a p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer (3) is formed on backside electrode layer (2), and then an n-type transparent and electroconductive film (5) is formed on this p-type CIS-based light absorbing layer (3). At this time, the backside electrode layer (2) is constituted by forming a first electrode layer (21) using a backside electrode material in which an alkali metal is mixed and, then forming a second electrode layer (22) using the backside electrode material that does not substantially contain the alkali metal.

Abstract: A superimposed voltage waveform with a predetermined cycle and amplitude is superimposed on a commanded voltage waveform for a second predetermined time after a first predetermined time elapses within an arcing period in which an arc is produced. The predetermined cycle of the superimposed voltage waveform is shorter than a short-circuit cycle and longer than a control cycle of a welding power supply unit. This suppresses a growth of a weld droplet by being pushed up toward a consumable electrode and suppresses an excessive growth of the droplet over an entire range from a low current range, characterized by frequent short-circuits, to a medium to high current range where short-circuits are less frequent. The droplet is also smoothly transferred to the weld pool in addition to preventing excessive droplet growth. This reduces the generation of spatter, giving a flatter bead appearance.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio engine. The engine includes a piston disposed in a cylinder bore and constituting a combustion chamber, a variable compression ratio mechanism connected to the piston and causing a top dead center position of the piston to vary, an actuator connected to the variable compression ratio mechanism to actuate the variable compression ratio mechanism, and a controller connected to the actuator to control an engine state and the actuator. The controller performs operations including setting the compression ratio corresponding to a state of the engine, actuating the actuator so that the compression ratio is set, determining whether a state of the engine is either a state allowing actuation of the actuator, or a state limiting actuation of the actuator, and limiting actuation of the actuator in the state limiting actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus that succeeds in providing enhanced usability by giving a paper placement opportunity to users so that an operational burden can be reduced is provided. A printer control section controls a printing section to effect print standby with respect to one of a plurality of image-data pages that has been subjected to print-standby specification first by a standby specification command. After a sensor of a manual feeding tray in the printing section detects placement of a new sheet, the printing section is so controlled as not to effect print standby with respect to the remainder of the pages even if standby is specified by a standby specification command.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine which varies a compression ratio by changing a top dead center position of a piston, including an engine block, the piston disposed in the engine block, a crank shaft supported by the engine block, and a plurality of links connecting the piston and the crank shaft. A first control shaft and a second control shaft respectively are supported by the engine block, each of which has a main shaft portion rotatably supported by the engine block and an eccentric portion eccentric to the main shaft portion, the eccentric portions of the first control shaft and the second control shaft deviating from axes of the respective main shaft portions in mutually different directions when viewed from an axial direction. A plurality of control links connect any one of the plurality of links connecting the piston and the crank shaft, and the first control shaft and the second control shaft.

Abstract: Setter transmits information of an instruction that changes a content of a welding condition item to welder power supply, which then selects a content of the welding condition item from welding-condition-item memory & selector based on the information. At the same time, welder power supply selects data of the welding condition, which data corresponds to the content selected, and then transmits the selected content to setter, which displays the content on display section. The foregoing structure allows setter to set a content of a welding condition item for welder power supply without modifying or replacing setter presently used.

Abstract: An optical audio disc comprises the first pack (A Pack), the second pack (A-CONT Pack), the third pack (V Pack), and the fourth pack (CONT Pack) in which the A-(CONT Pack is placed at the head of a data array and a plurality of the A and V Packs follow the A-CONT Pack in each audio contents block unit (ACBU). Information contained in an A-CONT Pack manages audio data contained in the A Pack. The A Pack contains audio data and the V Pack contains other data than the audio data such as closed caption (CC) data as well as video data. A reproduction apparatus for an optical audio disc (DVD-Audio disc) comprises the CONT Pack detector section 1103, the A-CONT Pack detector section 1109, the parameter sections 1108 and 1114, the V Pack buffer section 1104, and the A Pack buffer section 1110. The CONT Pack detector section 1103 and the A-CONT Pack detector section 1109 detect reproduced CONT and A-CONT Packs contained in the DVD-Audio disc 1101 respectively.