Abstract: Disclosed is a faucet valve including: a first valve body including a first slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body; and a second valve body including a second slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body, the first and second slide surfaces at least partially being in contact with each other with water in between. At least part of the second slide body is formed from a first amorphous carbon layer. The hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is equal to or less than that of the alumina-based sintered body forming the first valve body. In the first amorphous carbon layer, a ratio (ID/IG) of a D peak to a G peak, measured by Raman spectroscopy, is greater than 0.5 but less than 1.9.

Abstract: Disclosed is a faucet valve including: a first valve body including a first slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body; and a second valve body including a second slide surface, and formed from an alumina-based sintered body, the first and second slide surfaces at least partially being in contact with each other with water in between. At least part of the second slide body is formed from a first amorphous carbon layer. The hardness of the first amorphous carbon layer is equal to or less than that of the alumina-based sintered body forming the first valve body. In the first amorphous carbon layer, a ratio (ID/IG) of a D peak to a G peak, measured by Raman spectroscopy, is greater than 0.5 but less than 1.9.

Abstract: A character communication device which is connected to a network and enables at least communication by using characters. The device comprises a candidate term display means (S104) for displaying a group of candidate terms prepared for message communication in a candidate term display area (52) of the screen, a term selecting means (2b) for outputting a term which is selected by the operator from the group of candidate terms, and a message generating means (S108) for generating a message by serially displaying a plurality of outputted terms in a message editing area (53) of the screen and sending the generated message to a transmitting/receiving means.

Abstract: A character communication device which is connected to a network and enables at least communication by using characters. The device comprises a candidate term display means (S104) for displaying a group of candidate terms prepared for message communication in a candidate term display area (52) of the screen, a term selecting means (2b) for outputting a term which is selected by the operator from the group of candidate terms, and a message generating means (S108) for generating a message by serially displaying a plurality of outputted terms in a message editing area (53) of the screen and sending the generated message to a transmitting/receiving means.

Abstract: A character communication device which is connected to a network and enables at least communication by using characters. The device comprises a candidate term display means (S104) for displaying a group of candidate terms prepared for message communication in a candidate term display area (52) of the screen, a term selecting means (2b) for outputting a term which is selected by the operator from the group of candidate terms, and a message generating means (S108) for generating a message by serially displaying a plurality of outputted terms in a message editing area (53) of the screen and sending the generated message to a transmitting/receiving means.

Abstract: Provided is a game screen display controlling method comprising the steps of displaying a first game screen obtained from a first projection of a virtual 3-D space; comparing the priority of the first projection with the priority of a second projection correlated with a predetermined area when there is a predetermined positional relationship between a character who moves in the virtual 3-D space and the predetermined area set within the virtual 3-D space; and displaying a second game screen obtained from the second projection of the virtual 3-D space when the priority of the second projection is higher than the priority of the first projection. Thereby, the invention allows game pictures for effectively rendering the virtual 3-D space to be presented corresponding to the situation of the game.

Abstract: Provided is a game screen display controlling method comprising the steps of displaying a first game screen obtained from a first projection of a virtual 3-D space; comparing the priority of the first projection with the priority of a second projection correlated with a predetermined area when there is a predetermined positional relationship between a character who moves in the virtual 3-D space and the predetermined area set within the virtual 3-D space; and displaying a second game screen obtained from the second projection of the virtual 3-D space when the priority of the second projection is higher than the priority of the first projection. Thereby, the invention allows game pictures for effectively rendering the virtual 3-D space to be presented corresponding to the situation of the game.

Abstract: Provided is a game screen display controlling method comprising the steps of displaying a first game screen obtained from a first projection of a virtual 3-D space; comparing the priority of the first projection with the priority of a second projection correlated with a predetermined area when there is a predetermined positional relationship between a character who moves in the virtual 3-D space and the predetermined area set within the virtual 3-D space; and displaying a second game screen obtained from the second projection of the virtual 3-D space when the priority of the second projection is higher than the priority of the first projection. Thereby, the invention allows game pictures for effectively rendering the virtual 3-D space to be presented corresponding to the situation of the game.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying a video game character traversing a video game playfield, for use with a system which includes a video screen display, a user-controlled graphics controller and digital memory; wherein the video game character follows a path within the playfield, the method comprising the steps of: storing multiple collision blocks that define respective path segments; dividing the playfield into multiple path blocks that comprise the path; storing character collision-type information; storing references from individual path blocks to individual collision blocks; displaying character movement through the playfield from path block to path block along the path in response to user input to the graphics controller; controlling the display of character movement by causing the character image to follow a path defined by the path segments of individual collision blocks; and changing the stored character collision-type information when the character path passes a prescribed location on the playfiel

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a data processing system which can realize a variety of process. A secondary memory cassette 31 includes a connector 32 which can be connected to both a primary memory cassette 21 or a processing device body, and address transfer circuit 39 which judges whether the connector has been connected to the primary memory cassette 21 based upon the connection state of the connector and outputs an address transfer signal, and a memory 38 which outputs data corresponding to the address transfer signal and the address signal supplied from connector 32. The primary memory cassette 21 includes a mask ROM 28, a connector 22 for connection with the processing device body, and a connector 24 which can be connected with the secondary memory cassette 31. A predetermined pin of connector 24 is connected to a ground.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying a video game character traversing a video game playfield, for use with a system which includes a video screen display, a user-controlled graphics controller and digital memory; wherein the video game character follows a path within the playfield, the method comprising the steps of: storing multiple collision blocks that define respective path segments; dividing the playfield into multiple path blocks that comprise the path; storing character collision-type information; storing references from individual path blocks to individual collision blocks; displaying character movement through the playfield from path block to path block along the path in response to user input to the graphics controller; controlling the display of character movement by causing the character image to follow a path defined by the path segments of individual collision blocks; and changing the stored character collision-type information when the character path passes a prescribed location on the playfiel

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the display of game character movement in a video game for using a video game system, a method comprising the steps of: displaying a first playfield screen in an upper portion of a video display screen using an interlace video screen rendering technique; displaying a second playfield screen in a lower portion of the display screen using an interlace video screen rendering technique; controlling the movement of a first game character within the first playfield screen by providing inputs to a first user input device; and controlling movement of a second game character within the second playfield screen by providing inputs to a second user input device.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a multiplayer competition video game for use with the system which includes a video display screen, a graphics controller, digital memory and user input devices, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first region of the video display screen in which a scrollable playfield can be displayed; providing a second region of the video display screen in which the scrollable playfield can be displayed; displaying a first character in the first region; displaying a second character in the second region; scrolling the playfield in the first region to show progress of the first character in traversing the playfield; scrolling the playfield in the second region to show progress of the second character in traversing the playfield; displaying an exchange object in a portion of the scrollable playfield displayed in at least one of the first and second regions; activating the exchange object; interchanging respective playfield displays in the first display screen and the second d

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the appearance of a video game game character, as the character traverses a path displayed on a display screen; wherein the method is used in a video game system which includes a graphics controller, digital memory and a display screen, the method comprises the steps of: displaying a banked path segment in which the game character is displayed upright at at least one location on the banked path and is displayed upside down at at least one other location on this banked path; storing multiple sprite patterns representative of the appearance of the character at different locations on the banked path as the character traverses the banked path; tracking the character location on the banked path as the character traverses the banked path; retrieving the stored sprite patterns that portray the character at different locations on the banked path; and displaying a character using the retrieved patterns such that the character has different appearances at different locations on the

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the motion of two game characters in a video game for use in a system which includes a video display screen, a user-controlled graphics controller, digital memory, a first user input device and a second user input device; wherein movement of the first game character is responsive to the first user input device and movement of the second game character is responsive to the second user input device; wherein the video game involves the game characters traversing a playfield which is displayed as a series of video screen images, the method comprising the steps of: providing a succession of game character movement commands to the first user input device in order to control the movement of the first game character through the playfield; displaying a succession of movements of the first character within the playfield in response to the succession of commands provided to the first user input device; storing the succession of commands provided to the first user input device in the

Abstract: A plant activation tracking and display apparatus for use in a plant in which various points of plant components are represented by nodes including at least one system input node and at least one system output node, the adjacent nodes being connected to one another by means of fluid passages, with a pump unit and/or valve unit for creating a fluid flow in a specified direction being provided in the middle of each of the fluid passages in desired positions. An output device successively tracks each of the categorized fluids with a specified phase from the system input node to the system output node, and sequentially displays the array of the tracked nodes in one direction.

Abstract: A method for rectification includes steps of supplying raw materials to a rectifying column from a raw material feed pipe; returning a refluent fluid from a refluxing pipe to the column; leading a hold-up liquid from a bottom tank having a higher surface to a bottom tank having a lower surface of a liquid in a bottom portion of the column; heating the hold-up in each of bottom tanks; exchanging heat by bringing a vapor produced by heating the bottoms into counter-current contact with the reluent liquid returned to the rectifying column on plates arranged in the rectifying column, taking out a vapor from the top of the rectifying column, and taking out bottoms from the bottom tank.