Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processor that performs error diffusion processing by applying an error diffusion matrix to multi-valued image data having pixels two-dimensionally arranged, so as to convert the multi-valued image data into binary image data. The binarization unit applies an error diffusion matrix in which the diffusion coefficient of a pixel diagonal to a focused-on pixel is greater than those of other pixels.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processor that performs error diffusion processing by applying an error diffusion matrix to multi-valued image data having pixels two-dimensionally arranged, so as to convert the multi-valued image data into binary image data. The binarization unit applies an error diffusion matrix in which the diffusion coefficient of a pixel diagonal to a focused-on pixel is greater than those of other pixels.

Abstract: When reading the first document sheet, light intensity reference data is acquired by sampling a white reference plate while acquiring light intensity reference auxiliary data indicative of the light intensity of a light source lamp by sampling an auxiliary white reference plate. Then, just before reading the second or subsequent sheet, the auxiliary white reference plate is sampled to acquire the latest light intensity auxiliary data, followed by calculating the change amount from the light intensity reference auxiliary data. The change amount is used to correct the light intensity reference data separately for each picture element by referring to the profile data in which is stored the change amount of the sample value of each picture element corresponding to the change amount of the light intensity, followed by performing the shading compensation. By this configuration, it is possible to perform shading compensation in correspondence with the actual light intensity reduction.

Abstract: A substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film (especially a substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film useful as a substrate for a thin-film silicon-based solar cell) being excellent in mass production efficiency and being characterized by having a low resistance, a high transparency and a good light scattering performance over a full wavelength region (300 nm to 3 ?m) of solar ray, a process for its production, and a photoelectric conversion element (especially, solar cell) employing the substrate, are presented. A substrate with a transparent conductive oxide film, comprising a substrate and a transparent conductive oxide layer formed on the substrate and constituted by a plurality of ridges and a plurality of flat portions, wherein the surfaces of the ridges and the flat portions, have many continuous micron-size protrusions.

Abstract: When reading the first document sheet, light intensity reference data is acquired by sampling a white reference plate while acquiring light intensity reference auxiliary data indicative of the light intensity of a light source lamp by sampling an auxiliary white reference plate. Then, just before reading the second or subsequent sheet, the auxiliary white reference plate is sampled to acquire the latest light intensity auxiliary data, followed by calculating the change amount from the light intensity reference auxiliary data. The change amount is used to correct the light intensity reference data separately for each picture element by referring to the profile data in which is stored the change amount of the sample value of each picture element corresponding to the change amount of the light intensity, followed by performing the shading compensation. By this configuration, it is possible to perform shading compensation in correspondence with the actual light intensity reduction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to uniformly supply of a gas onto a base material in a way simpler and lower in cost, and thus, to realize a high-quality surface treatment. For that purpose, in surface treatment of a base material (12) by supplying a surface-treating gas on the surface of the base material (12) while conveying it in a particular direction, the peripheral surface of a rotor having a cylindrical peripheral surface (24) is made to face, via a gap (23), the surface of the base material (12) or an opposing member (20) formed at a position separated from the base material and the rotor is rotated around the axis in the direction almost perpendicular to the base material (12)-conveying direction, as the means for supplying the surface-treating gas. By the rotation, the surface-treating gas is dragged in by the peripheral surface of the rotor (24), guided into the gap (23), and then, fed from the gap (23) onto the surface of the base material (12).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to make it possible to uniformly supply of a gas onto a base material in a way simpler and lower in cost, and thus, to realize a high-quality surface treatment. For that purpose, in surface treatment of a base material (12) by supplying a surface-treating gas on the surface of the base material (12) while conveying it in a particular direction, the peripheral surface of a rotor having a cylindrical peripheral surface (24) is made to face, via a gap (23), the surface of the base material (12) or an opposing member (20) formed at a position separated from the base material and the rotor is rotated around the axis in the direction almost perpendicular to the base material (12)-conveying direction, as the means for supplying the surface-treating gas. By the rotation, the surface-treating gas is dragged in by the peripheral surface of the rotor (24), guided into the gap (23), and then, fed from the gap (23) onto the surface of the base material (12).

Abstract: In a light-emitting diode, a substantially square flip chip is placed on a substantially square sub-mount at a position and posture which are obtained through superposition of a center point and center axis of the flip chip on a center point and center axis of the sub-mount and subsequent rotation of the flip chip about the center points by approximately 45°. Therefore, triangular exposed regions are formed on the sub-mount, in which two lead electrodes for the flip chip can be formed. As a result, the flip chip can be placed on a lead frame such that the center axis of the flip chip coincides with the center axis of a parabola of the lead frame. Further, the sub-mount is formed of a semiconductor substrate, and a diode for over-voltage protection is formed within the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, breakage of the light-emitting diode due to excessive voltage can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a wrap-fitted state of a cap that is wrap-fitted to the neck of a bottle by detecting a positional relationship between a bottle mark and a cap mark, wherein an optical lens is arranged at a higher position on the vertical center axis of the bottle to which the cap is wrap-fitted, a single camera is arranged at a higher position on the optical axis of the optical lens to image the bottle mark and the cap mark through the optical lens, an illumination device is arranged for illuminating the bottle mark and the cap mark, the bottle mark and the cap mark are simultaneously shot by the camera, and the obtained image is sent to an image processor to detect a positional relationship between the bottle mark and the cap mark.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a wrap-fitted state of a cap that is wrap-fitted to the neck of a bottle by detecting a positional relationship between a bottle mark and a cap mark, wherein an optical lens is arranged at a higher position on the vertical center axis of the bottle to which the cap is wrap-fitted, a single camera is arranged at a higher position on the optical axis of the optical lens to image the bottle mark and the cap mark through the optical lens, an illumination device is arranged for illuminating the bottle mark and the cap mark, the bottle mark and the cap mark are simultaneously shot by the camera, and the obtained image is sent to an image processor to detect a positional relationship between the bottle mark and the cap mark.

Abstract: In a light-emitting diode, a substantially square flip chip is placed on a substantially square sub-mount at a position and posture which are obtained through superposition of a center point and center axis of the flip chip on a center point and center axis of the sub-mount and subsequent rotation of the flip chip about the center points by approximately 45°. Therefore, triangular exposed regions are formed on the sub-mount, in which two lead electrodes for the flip chip can be formed. As a result, the flip chip can be placed on a lead frame such that the center axis of the flip chip coincides with the center axis of a parabola of the lead frame. Further, the sub-mount is formed of a semiconductor substrate, and a diode for over-voltage protection is formed within the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, breakage of the light-emitting diode due to excessive voltage can be prevented.

Abstract: In a light-emitting diode, a substantially square flip chip is placed on a substantially square sub-mount at a position and posture which are obtained through superposition of a center point and center axis of the flip chip on a center point and center axis of the sub-mount and subsequent rotation of the flip chip about the center points by approximately 45°. Therefore, triangular exposed regions are formed on the sub-mount, in which two lead electrodes for the flip chip can be formed. As a result, the flip chip can be placed on a lead frame such that the center axis of the flip chip coincides with the center axis of a parabola of the lead frame. Further, the sub-mount is formed of a semiconductor substrate, and a diode for over-voltage protection is formed within the semiconductor substrate. Therefore, breakage of the light-emitting diode due to excessive voltage can be prevented.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element comprises a pair of substrates provided with electrodes and a liquid crystal and solidified matrix composite material, disposed between the pair of substrates, which includes a nematic liquid crystal dispersed and held in a solidified matrix, the nematic liquid crystal being such that the refractive index of the liquid crystal is changed depending on states of applying a voltage wherein in a state, the refractive index of the liquid crystal substantially coincides with that of the solidified matrix to thereby pass light, and in the other state, the former does not coincide with the latter to thereby cause the scattering of light, wherein the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n of the liquid crystal used is 0.18 or higher, and the dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon..sub.LC of the liquid crystal used satisfies the relation of 5<.DELTA..epsilon..sub.LC <13.

Abstract: A composition for use in a liquid crystal optical element, such as a liquid crystal display or laser shutter device, comprised of a liquid crystal material and a solidified polymer material. The liquid crystal is such that its refractive index is changed depending on states of applying a voltage. In one state, the refractive index of the liquid crystal substantially coincides with the refractive index of the solidified matrix to thereby pass light. While in the other state, the refractive index of the liquid crystal does not coincide with the refractive index of the solidified matrix to thereby cause the scattering of light. Specifically, the liquid crystal material used in the composition has a refractive index anisotropy (.DELTA.n) is greater than 0.18 and the dielectric anisotropy (.DELTA..epsilon.) satisfies the relation of 5<.DELTA..epsilon.<11.6.

Abstract: A low pressure CVD system comprising an inner tube having an upper end and a lower end opened, and made of a silicon carbide material, an outer tube including a circumferential wall surrounding an outer periphery of the inner tube with a predetermined spacing, an upper wall closing an upper end of the circumferential wall and a flange provided at a lower portion thereof, the outer tube having a lower end opened, a base portion for supporting the inner tube and the outer tube at the lower ends thereof, and for providing hermetic sealing between the lower end of the outer tube and the base portion, the base portion having a central portion formed with an opening, a lid provided for opening and shutting the opening in the base portion, and a furnace wall surrounding the circumferential wall and the upper wall of the outer tube, the furnace wall having a heater arranged on an inner side thereof wherein the outer tube is made of a silicon carbide material, and padding of a silicon carbide material is formed at a c

Abstract: A plurality of sign display units are arranged adjacent to each other along at least one surface in order to form a convex or concave arc curved surface curved with a predetermined radius. In each sign display unit, light-emitting elements are arranged in a dot matrix so as to be able to display a kanji character, a high-quality alpha-numeric character close to a printing type, or an image, thus displaying desired sign information. The sign display unit provides good readability while its visual field angle is increased without degrading the display quality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface emission apparatus for causing light, emitting from a light source arranged to a side of a light-emitting surface thereof, to emerge from the light-emitting surface. The surface emission apparatus includes a transparent light-guide plate in which reflecting shape portions formed with small projecting or concaving portions are arranged on its bottom surface portion opposing the light-emitting surface such that a density of the projecting or concaving portions is gradually increased in accordance with a distance from the light source. Light incident from the light source is reflected by the reflecting shape portions and emerges from the light-emitting surface. Since light emerging from the light source is reflected toward the light-emitting surface in accordance with the density of the reflecting shape portions, uniform light emission can be obtained throughout the entire light-emitting surface.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display element and a projection type active matrix liquid crystal display device by which a display can be obtained which is good in color balance and high in brightness and also in contrast ratio. The display element includes a liquid crystal material held between an active matrix substrate and a counter electrode substrate. The liquid crystal material is formed from a liquid crystal polymer composite wherein nematic liquid crystal is contained dispersively in a polymer matrix having a refractive index which coincides with the ordinary refractive index of the liquid crystal used, and a silicon thin film transistor is used as an active element on the active matrix substrate. The display device includes such an active matrix liquid crystal display element, a light source for projection light, and an optical system of projection.