Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110017662 | COMPOSITE SEPARATION MEMBRANE - In order to obtain a composite separation membrane which has excellent chemical resistance, separation performance and water permeability at the same time, the present invention provides a composite separation membrane comprising a separation function layer on a porous supporting membrane, characterized in that the separation function layer contains at least a polymer of a polyhedral silsesquioxane represented by the following general formula (a) and a hydrophilic monomer. | 01-27-2011 |
20110139708 | COMPOSITE SEMIPERMEABLE MEMBRANE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - An object of the present invention is to provide a composite semipermeable membrane which has excellent chemical resistance, separation performance, and water permeability, and the composite semipermeable membrane has the following structure. | 06-16-2011 |
20140339152 | COMPOSITE SEMIPERMEABLE MEMBRANE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME - A composite semipermeable membrane includes: a supporting membrane having a substrate and a porous supporting layer; and a separation functional layer provided on the supporting membrane, in which, when any 10 cross sections of the composite semipermeable membrane, having a length of 2.0 μm in a membrane surface direction, are observed using an electron microscope, an average number density of projections on the separation functional layer, which have a height equivalent to or higher than ⅕ of a 10-point average surface roughness of the separation functional layer, is 10.0 pieces/μm or more, in each cross section, and an average height of the projections is 100 nm or more. | 11-20-2014 |
20140377460 | COMPOSITE SEPARATION MEMBRANE - In order to obtain a composite separation membrane which has excellent chemical resistance, separation performance and water permeability at the same time, the present invention provides a composite separation membrane comprising a separation function layer on a porous supporting membrane, characterized in that the separation function layer contains at least a polymer of a polyhedral silsesquioxane represented by the following general formula (a) and a hydrophilic monomer. | 12-25-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080230899 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, a plurality of opening regions | 09-25-2008 |
20080237853 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME - A conventional semiconductor device has a problem that reduction of a resistance value above a pad electrode is difficult because of an oxide film formed on a surface of the pad electrode. In a semiconductor device of this invention, an oxidation preventing metal layer is formed on a pad electrode, and the oxidation preventing metal layer is exposed at an opening region formed in a spin coat resin film at a portion above the pad electrode. In addition, a plating metal layer and a copper plated layer are formed on the oxidation preventing metal layer. With this structure, the resistance value above the pad electrode is reduced because the top surface of the pad electrode is difficult to oxidize, and the oxidation preventing metal layer having considerably smaller sheet resistivity than an oxidation film serves as part of a current path. | 10-02-2008 |
20080258301 | Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same - A conventional semiconductor device has a problem that reduction of a connection resistance value between wiring layers is difficult because of an oxide film formed between the wiring layers. In a semiconductor device of this invention, a first metal layer is embeded in opening regions which connect a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer and an opening is formed in a spin coated resin film formed on the first metal layer. In the opening, a Cr layer forming a plating metal layer and a Cu plated layer are connected to each other. With this structure, the spaces among crystal grains in portions in the Cr layer on the first metal layer are wide, which causes the portions to be coarse. In the coarse portions in the Cr layer, an alloy layer formed of the second metal layer and the Cu plated layer is formed, and thus, the connection resistance value is reduced. | 10-23-2008 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080232245 | Transmission apparatus - A transmission apparatus includes an active programmable device; a standby programmable device upgrading the version; an external memory part that includes a table memory and a main signal memory and that is shared between the two programmable devices; and a switching part that selects either of the main signals processed by the two programmable devices to transmit the selected main signal to an output path. The active programmable device is capable of processing the main signals in parallel with the standby programmable device and receives a notification of completion of the version upgrade from the standby programmable device to issue an instruction to start switching to the standby programmable device. The standby programmable device uses the table memory and the main signal memory updated by the active programmable device to process the main signals in response to the instruction to start the switching. | 09-25-2008 |
20090287985 | Apparatus and method for frame transmission - An apparatus for frame transmission includes a dummy data inserting unit that inserts dummy data, at timing of an interval in which a received frame input intermittently is not detected, in a sequence of processing processes of scrambling processing of user data cut out from the received frame, reading-out of the data after the scrambling processing with a parity appended thereto from a memory and parity checking thereof, and descrambling processing of the data after the parity checking, and an error determining unit that determines whether an error is occurring in the sequence of the processing processes, based on the dummy data obtained by the descrambling processing of the dummy data inserted in the sequence of the processing processes by the dummy data inserting unit. | 11-19-2009 |
20130332629 | CONFIGURATION CONTROLLER AND CONFIGURATION CONTROL METHOD - A configuration controller configured to control configuration of a partially configurable programmable device, includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not circuit data to be arranged in any one of a plurality of areas in the programmable device matches desired circuit data for which a desired arrangement target area is specified, before the circuit data to be arranged is written into the programmable device, and a data controller configured to control whether or not the circuit data to be arranged is to be written into the programmable device, in accordance with the determination result of the determination unit. | 12-12-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090047576 | Nickel Metal-Hydride Battery and Method of Manufacturing the Same - An object of the present invention is to provide a sealed nickel metal-hydride that shows an excellent output power performance, while maintaining an excellent charge/discharge cycle performance, and a method of manufacturing the same. | 02-19-2009 |
20090130551 | Nickel Metal-Hydride Battery - A sealed nickel metal-hydride battery shows a high output density and an excellent cycle performance particularly in a cold atmosphere. In a nickel metal-hydride battery having a nickel electrode and a hydrogen absorbing electrode respectively as positive electrode and negative electrode, the hydrogen absorbing electrode is formed by making an conductive support carry hydrogen absorbing alloy powder of rare earth elements and non-rare earth elements including nickel and the saturation mass susceptibility of the hydrogen absorbing alloy powder is 2 to 6 emu/g while the rate at which the hydrogen absorbing electrode carries hydrogen absorbing alloy powder per unit area is 0.06 to 0.15 g/cm | 05-21-2009 |
20090208830 | Lead for sealed battery, sealed battery using the same and method of manufacturing the same - A lead for a sealed battery having a specific profile can realize a low resistance welding process when connecting the upper current collecting plate and the lid in order to make the sealed battery show a low resistance and excellent output characteristics. A sealed battery is realized by using such a lead and a method of manufacturing such a battery employs a specific welding step. | 08-20-2009 |
20090233174 | Method for Manufacturing Battery, Battery Manufactured by The Method, and Method for Inspecting Battery - Provided are a method for manufacturing highly reliable batteries and a method for inspecting batteries that can achieve firm, low-resistance welding upon welding of points of contact between a lead welded to the lid of a battery and an upper current collecting plate and that can eliminate batteries with defective welds. | 09-17-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100255373 | Method for preparing hydrogen absorbing electrode and nickel metal-hydride battery - In a method for preparing a hydrogen absorbing electrode, a hydrogen absorbing alloy which contains a rare earth element as an alloy constituent and a transition metal element is immersed in an aqueous alkaline solution so that the saturation mass susceptibility is 1.0 to 6.5 emu/g of the hydrogen absorbing alloy. The hydrogen absorbing alloy is mixed through the immersing step with an oxide or hydroxide of a rare earth element wherein the oxide or hydroxide has as a main component at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. Then, a mixture of the hydrogen absorbing alloy and the oxide or hydroxide of the rare earth element is applied to form a desired shape. | 10-07-2010 |
20120045689 | BATTERY ELECTRODE SHEET AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREFOR - Embodiments of the present invention provide such things as an electrode sheet having little curl for a spiral wound battery and a manufacturing method therefor. | 02-23-2012 |
20120058375 | BATTERY - Provided is a battery which has less tendency to experience delamination or loss of short circuit prevention layer and/or active material layer during manufacture and use. | 03-08-2012 |
20120115030 | Electrode for electricity-storing device, electricity-storing device employing such electrode, and method of manufacturing electrode for electricity-storing device - An electricity-storing device electrode comprises a current collector foil, an active material layer formed on a surface of the current collector foil, and a high-resistance layer formed on the surface of the current collector foil so as to be adjacent to and in direct contact with the active material layer. At least a portion of the interface between the active material layer and the high-resistance layer, mixed phase is formed where constituents from the two layers intermingle. Presence of the mixed phase at the interface between the active material layer and the high-resistance layer improves the bond between the two adjacent layers. During manufacture and use, there is therefore reduced tendency to experience delamination or loss of the active material layer, the high-resistance layer, and/or other layer(s), such as layer(s) provided for short circuit prevention. | 05-10-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090042363 | Method for manufacturing bonded wafer and outer-peripheral grinding machine of bonded wafer - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer, which includes at least the steps of bonding a bond wafer and a base wafer, grinding an outer peripheral portion of the bonded bond wafer, etching off an unbonded portion of the ground bond wafer, and then reducing a thickness of the bond wafer, wherein, in the step of grinding the outer peripheral portion, the bonded bond wafer is ground so as to form a groove along the outer peripheral portion of the bond wafer to form an outer edge portion outside the groove; and in the subsequent step of etching, the outer edge portion is removed together with the groove portion of the bond wafer to form a terrace portion where the base wafer is exposed at the outer peripheral portion of the bonded wafer. Thus, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer, which can reduce the number of dimples formed in a terrace portion of a base wafer upon removing an outer peripheral portion of a bonded bond wafer. | 02-12-2009 |
20090111245 | Method for manufacturing bonded wafer - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer comprising steps of forming an oxide film on at least a surface of a base wafer or a surface of a bond wafer; bringing the base wafer and the bond wafer into close contact via the oxide film; subjecting these wafers to a heat treatment under an oxidizing atmosphere to bond the wafers together; grinding and removing the outer periphery of the bond wafer so that the outer periphery has a predetermined thickness; subsequently removing an unbonded portion of the outer periphery of the bond wafer by etching; and then thinning the bond wafer so that the bond wafer has a desired thickness, wherein the etching is conducted by using a mixed acid at 30° C. or less at least comprising hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and acetic acid. Thus there is provided a method for manufacturing a bonded wafer by which unbonded portions of the outer periphery of the bond wafer are removed with a high selectivity ratio (R | 04-30-2009 |
20090233109 | Method for Producing Bonded Wafer, Bonded Wafer, and Surface Grinding Machine - The present invention is a method for producing a bonded wafer, comprising at least: bonding a base wafer serving as a support substrate to a bond wafer made of a silicon single crystal via an insulator film or directly bonding the wafers to provide a bonded wafer; and reducing a thickness of the bond wafer to form a thin film made of the silicon single crystal on the base wafer, wherein the thickness of the bonded wafer is reduced based on at least surface grinding while measuring the thickness of the bond wafer, and surface grinding with respect to the bond wafer is stopped when the thickness of the bond wafer reaches a target thickness. As a result, the method for producing a bonded wafer enabling a silicon single crystal thin film to precisely have a desired film thickness, a bonded wafer, and a surface grinding machine enabling a silicon single crystal thin film to precisely have a desired film thickness are provided. | 09-17-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080252904 | Optical measuring machine - An optical measuring machine includes a screen having a reference line, a movable stage, a detector for detecting a displacement of the stage, the first and second image-forming units for forming optical image(s) of a target object mounted on the stage on the screen, and a storage for storing the optical image(s). The first image-forming unit includes an image pickup for picking up the optical image(s), an output unit for outputting the picked up optical image(s) in digital image data, and a projecting unit for projecting the optical image(s) on the screen in accordance with the image data output by the output unit. The storage stores the image data output by the output unit. | 10-16-2008 |
20080285158 | Objective lens and optical measuring device - An objective lens used for a microscope includes a lens(es), an iris diaphragm and a tubular body. The lens(es),which is provided in a manner facing an object, transmits light reflected from a measuring surface of the object. The iris diaphragm, which is provided behind the lens(es), changes an aperture diameter of a light-transmissive aperture of a light-transmissive surface that is substantially orthogonal to a main optical axis of the light transmitted through the lens(es). The tubular body, which is detachably mounted on a revolving nosepiece of a trunk that includes a zoom imaging lens(es) for forming an image from the light transmitted through the light-transmissive aperture, holds the lens(es) and the iris diaphragm. | 11-20-2008 |
20090044609 | Test management method for indentation tester and indentation tester - Disclosed a test management method for an indentation tester which includes a control section and forms an indentation on a surface of a heated or cooled sample by pressing an indenter to which a load is applied onto the surface of the sample, the test management method including the steps of: measuring a predetermined reference block as the sample under a plurality of temperature environments to obtain a test result; calculating a test error caused by temperature environment based on the test result by the control section; and judging whether or not the test error is within a predetermined range by the control section. | 02-19-2009 |
20100133417 | AUTOFOCUS DEVICE - An autofocus device includes an objective lens, an observation optical system, a driving mechanism that displaces the objective lens in an optical axis direction thereof, an illumination-optical-system optical path used to illuminate a measurement surface of a measurement object through the objective lens with light, and a pattern-projection-optical-system optical path. An electronic control shutter, a pattern projection plate having a predetermined pattern formed thereon, and a projection lens are provided in the pattern-projection-optical-system optical path. | 06-03-2010 |
20120193511 | AUTOFOCUS DEVICE - Provided is an autofocus device comprising: an optical source; an optical unit that allows emitted light from the optical source and object light from a measurement target to pass through the same optical path, the optical unit being arranged between the optical source and the measurement target; and a detection unit that performs focus detection by using the object light passed through the optical unit, wherein the optical unit comprises: a tube lens that forms the emitted light into parallel light; a line-like image forming unit that forms a line-like image on a surface of the measurement target by the parallel light from the tube lens; and a rotation unit that rotates the line-like image. | 08-02-2012 |
20140145084 | OPTICAL MEASURING DEVICE - In an optical measuring device, the visual observation section includes: a white light source which emits white light; a first objective lens arranged between the white light source and measurement object, through which the white light emitted from the white light source and return light from the measurement object transmit; a plurality of tube lenses which change a magnification of the return light passing through the first objective lens to a predetermined magnification; and a lens switching mechanism which can selectively switch the tube lenses so as to select one of the tube lenses to be arranged on the return light, and the special observation section includes: a special light source which emits special light; and a second objective lens arranged between the special light source and measurement object, through which the special light emitted from the special light source and return light from the measurement object transmit. | 05-29-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100051473 | HYDROGEN GENERATING SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREFOR - A hydrogen generating system is equipped with a water electrolysis unit for producing hydrogen by performing electrolysis on pure water supplied from a pure water supply apparatus, with a back-pressure valve mechanism disposed in a hydrogen outlet port of the water electrolysis unit. The back-pressure valve mechanism is equipped with a first back-pressure valve, which sets a first back pressure, for discharging hydrogen to the outside of a hydrogen supply passage, and a second back-pressure valve, which sets a second back pressure at a higher pressure than the first back pressure, for extracting high-pressure hydrogen into the hydrogen supply passage. | 03-04-2010 |
20100206722 | ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A unit cell of an electrolysis apparatus includes a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between an anode separator and a cathode separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode current collector disposed on one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and held against the anode separator, and a cathode current collector disposed on the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and held against the cathode separator. A protective sheet having a number of through holes defined therein is interposed between the anode current collector and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. | 08-19-2010 |
20100213051 | ELECTROCHEMICAL APPARATUS - A hydrogen electrolysis apparatus includes a stack of unit cells each having a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between an anode separator and a cathode separator. The anode separator has a first flow field which is supplied with water, and the cathode separator has a second flow field which produces high-pressure hydrogen through an electrolysis of the water. The cathode separator also has a first seal groove defined therein which extends around the second flow field and a first seal member inserted in the first seal groove. The first seal groove and the second flow field are held in fluid communication with each other through passageways. The passageways keep the first seal groove and the second flow field in direct fluid communication with each other in bypassing relation to the boundary between the cathode separator and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. | 08-26-2010 |
20100219066 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM - A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing pure water supplied from a pure water supply apparatus for manufacturing high-pressure hydrogen. The water electrolysis apparatus has a pipe serving as a hydrogen outlet to which a gas-liquid separator, a cooler, and a water adsorption apparatus are successively connected in this order along the direction in which hydrogen is discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus. A first back-pressure valve is connected between the cooler and the water adsorption apparatus, and a second back-pressure valve is connected downstream of the water adsorption apparatus. | 09-02-2010 |
20100230278 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM - A water electrolysis system has a water electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing pure water, thereby producing hydrogen, a water storage apparatus for separating between oxygen and residual water discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus, thereby storing the water, a water circulation apparatus for circulating the water stored in the water storage apparatus through the water electrolysis apparatus, and a water supply apparatus for supplying the pure water prepared from city water to the water storage apparatus. An inlet is formed at one end of a return pipe to introduce the oxygen and the residual water discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus into a tank, and the position of the inlet is determined such that the inlet is constantly opened in the water stored in the tank. | 09-16-2010 |
20100230295 | METHOD OF SHUTTING DOWN WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A water electrolysis apparatus applies an electrolysis voltage between current collectors disposed on the respective sides of an electrolyte membrane thereby to electrolyze water to generate oxygen in an anode electrolysis chamber and hydrogen in a cathode electrolysis chamber under a pressure higher than a normal pressure. The water electrolysis apparatus is shut down by applying a voltage between the current collectors after the cathode electrolysis chamber stops supplying the hydrogen, reducing a pressure in at least the cathode electrolysis chamber while the voltage is being applied, and stopping applying the voltage when the pressure in the cathode electrolysis chamber is equal to a pressure in the anode electrolysis chamber. | 09-16-2010 |
20110132748 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A water electrolysis apparatus includes an anode separator having a water flow field held in fluid communication with a water supply passage and a discharge passage. The water flow field includes a plurality of water channels, an arcuate inlet buffer, and an arcuate outlet buffer. The water channels have respective ends connected to the arcuate inlet buffer through respective inlet joint channels. The inlet joint channels are oriented at an angle of 90 degrees or greater with respect to respective tangential lines at the ends of the inlet joint channels which are connected to the arcuate inlet buffer. | 06-09-2011 |
20110147202 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A water electrolysis apparatus is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells. Each unit cell includes a membrane electrode assembly, and an anode separator and a cathode separator which sandwich the membrane electrode assembly therebetween. The anode separator has a plurality of inlet joint channels in fluid communication with a water supply passage, and a plurality of outlet joint channels in fluid communication with a discharge passage. The water supply passage has an inner wall surface at which the inlet joint channels are open, and an outer wall surface which faces the inner wall surface, the inner wall surface and the outer wall surface jointly forming an opening of an oblong cross-sectional shape. | 06-23-2011 |
20110180398 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - Each unit cell of a water electrolysis apparatus includes a pair of an anode separator and a cathode separator and a membrane electrode assembly interposed between the pair of separators. The anode separator has a first seal groove extending annularly around an anode current collector, a first seal member being disposed in the first seal groove. The cathode separator has a second seal groove extending annularly around a cathode current collector, a second seal member being disposed in the second seal groove. The first seal groove and the second seal groove are located across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane from each other respectively at different positions with respect to a stacking direction of the separators. | 07-28-2011 |
20110198217 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - Each unit cell of a water electrolysis apparatus includes a pair of an anode separator and a cathode separator and a membrane electrode assembly interposed between the pair of separators. The anode separator has a first flow field to which water is supplied, and the cathode separator has a second flow field for producing high-pressure hydrogen through electrolysis of the water. A second seal groove for receiving a second seal member is disposed annularly around the second flow field. A pressure-releasing chamber is disposed outwardly of the second seal groove, is capable of communicating with the second seal groove and communicates with the outside through a depressurizing channel. | 08-18-2011 |
20110240486 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME - A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus for producing high-pressure hydrogen by electrolyzing pure water and a casing. The casing defines therein an accommodating chamber accommodating the water electrolysis apparatus etc. therein, first electric component compartments separate from the accommodating chamber and housing a controller and an electrolysis power supply therein, the first electric component compartments having first fans for introducing external air, and a second electric component compartment separate from the accommodating chamber and housing a relay, the second electric component compartment being connected to the first electric component compartments by a pipe. | 10-06-2011 |
20120073962 | HIGH-PRESSURE WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A high-pressure water electrolysis apparatus includes a plurality of unit cells each having an anode separator, a cathode separator, and a membrane electrode assembly which is sandwiched between the anode separator and the cathode separator. The membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and an anode current collector and a cathode current collector which are disposed respectively on opposite sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An electrically-conductive member is interposed between the cathode separator and disc springs and between a plate member and the cathode current collector so as to integrally extend from a region between the cathode separator and the disc springs to a region between the plate member and the cathode current collector. The electrically-conductive member includes an electrically-conductive path which electrically connects the cathode separator with the cathode current collector. | 03-29-2012 |
20130015059 | ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICEAANM Haryu; EijiAACI Utsunomiya-shiAACO JPAAGP Haryu; Eiji Utsunomiya-shi JPAANM Okabe; MasanoriAACI Nerima-kuAACO JPAAGP Okabe; Masanori Nerima-ku JPAANM Nakazawa; KojiAACI Utsunomiya-shiAACO JPAAGP Nakazawa; Koji Utsunomiya-shi JPAANM Taruya; KenjiAACI Utsunomiya-shiAACO JPAAGP Taruya; Kenji Utsunomiya-shi JP - In a unit cell that forms a water electrolysis device, which is an electrochemical device, an electrolyte membrane/electrode structure is sandwiched between an anode-side separator and a cathode-side separator. A load-applying mechanism is disposed between a cathode-side feeder and the cathode-side separator, while an anode-side feeder is set with a smaller contact area range than the aforementioned cathode-side feeder. The anode-side feeder and the cathode-side feeder are set with a larger contact area range than an anode electrode catalyst layer and a cathode electrode catalyst layer, and a contact surface that touches a solid polymer electrolyte membrane on the aforementioned anode-side feeder is disposed projecting farther to the side of the aforementioned solid polymer electrolyte membrane than a contact surface on the anode-side separator and a contact surface on a frame member. | 01-17-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090013418 | Trophectodermal Cell-Specific Gene Transfer Methods - The present inventors discovered that genes could be introduced specifically into trophectodermal cells with high efficiency, by infecting blastocysts with viral vectors carrying an arbitrary polynucleotide, or by using a nucleic acid transfection reagent in blastocysts, from which zona pellucida (extracellular matrix covering preimplantation early embryos to protect them from infection of viruses and the like) is removed. This method has no risk of infecting cells of the inner cell mass, which develops into a fetus in the future, with the introduced polynucleotide because the trophectoderm serves as a barrier. The present invention provides methods for introducing foreign genes into only placenta but not fetus, which enables rescue of genetically mutant animals from embryonic lethality due to placental abnormality and allows their birth. Furthermore, it is possible to analyze expression and effect of genes that regulate placental formation or placental function by using these methods. | 01-08-2009 |
20140370602 | TROPHECTODERMAL CELL-SPECIFIC GENE TRANSFER METHODS - The present inventors discovered that genes could be introduced specifically into trophectodermal cells with high efficiency, by infecting blastocysts with viral vectors carrying an arbitrary polynucleotide, or by using a nucleic acid transfection reagent in blastocysts, from which zona pellucida (extracellular matrix covering preimplantation early embryos to protect them from infection of viruses and the like) is removed. This method has no risk of infecting cells of the inner cell mass, which develops into a fetus in the future, with the introduced polynucleotide because the trophectoderm serves as a barrier. The present invention provides methods for introducing foreign genes into only placenta but not fetus, which enables rescue of genetically mutant animals from embryonic lethality due to placental abnormality and allows their birth. Furthermore, it is possible to analyze expression and effect of genes that regulate placental formation or placental function by using these methods. | 12-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090142865 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - A liquid crystal display using a ferroelectric liquid crystal, which can give mono-domain alignment of the ferroelectric liquid crystal without forming alignment defects such as zigzag defects, hairpin defects and double domains and which is so remarkably good in alignment stability that the alignment thereof can be maintained even if the temperature of the liquid crystal is raised to the phase transition point or higher. The liquid crystal display has a ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between two substrates, wherein an electrode and a photo alignment layer are each successively formed on opposite faces of the two substrates facing each other, and a constituent material of the respective photo alignment layer has a different composition with the ferroelectric liquid crystal sandwiched there between. | 06-04-2009 |
20100007832 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - A liquid crystal display, using a ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibiting mono-stability, which makes it possible to control the direction of the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display is produced by holding a ferroelectric liquid crystal between: an oblique vapor deposition-alignment layer of a first alignment treatment substrate, in which a first electrode layer and the oblique vapor deposition-alignment layer are formed in this order on a first substrate; and a fixed liquid crystal layer of a second alignment treatment substrate, in which a second electrode layer, an alignment layer for reactive liquid crystal and the fixed liquid crystal layer are laminated in this order on the second substrate. | 01-14-2010 |
20100053525 | LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - A liquid crystal display, using a ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibiting mono-stability, which makes it possible to control the direction of the spontaneous polarization of the ferroelectric liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display includes: a first alignment treatment substrate having a first alignment layer which is a rubbed layer; a second alignment treatment substrate having a second alignment layer which is a photo alignment layer using a photo-dimerization type material; and a liquid crystal layer containing a ferroelectric liquid crystal and held between the first alignment treatment substrate and the second alignment treatment substrate. The ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits mono-stability, and when a negative voltage is applied to a second electrode layer of the second alignment treatment substrate, a molecular direction of the ferroelectric liquid crystal is changed by about 2 times a tilt angle of the ferroelectric liquid crystal parallel to a surface of the substrate. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060844 | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - A process for producing a liquid crystal display having less alignment defects, which seldom causes aligning disorder at the boundary where ferroelectric liquid crystals allowed to flow are brought into contact with each other when the ferroelectric liquid crystals are coated on the substrate flow. The process includes a first alignment layer formation step and a liquid crystal coating step. The liquid crystal coating step is a step of linearly coating the ferroelectric liquid crystals on a first alignment layer of a liquid crystal side substrate in a direction substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel to the alignment treatment direction conducted in the first alignment layer formation step. | 03-11-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110172249 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING ABSORBABILITY OF PREPARATION, AND PREPARATION HAVING IMPROVED ABSORBABILITY - The present invention provides a method for improving absorbability of the active ingredient of an enteric polymer coated preparation, which includes using an organic acid. | 07-14-2011 |
20120129878 | TABLET - Provided is a tablet having a high content of 2-[[6-[(3R)-3-amino-1-piperidinyl]-3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1(2H)-pyrimidinyl]methyl]-4-fluorobenzonitrile (compound (A)) or a salt thereof as a pharmaceutically active component. A tablet containing compound (A) or a salt thereof, and a fluidizer, which has a compound (A) content of 35-50 weight %. | 05-24-2012 |
20130273157 | ORALLY DISINTEGRATING TABLET - A orally disintegrating tablet is obtained by tableting fine granules showing controlled release of lansoprazole and an additive, which is capable of suppressing breakage of the fine granules during tableting, and can control the release of lansoprazole for a long time, and can maintain a therapeutically effective concentration for a prolonged time, and shows superior disintegration property in the oral cavity. | 10-17-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080303054 | APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER, METHOD OF PRODUCING GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER, METHOD OF PRODUCING GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE, GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE THEREOF, AND LAMP THEREOF - An apparatus for producing a group-III nitride semiconductor layer which forms a group-III nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate by a sputtering method, the apparatus including: a first plasma-generating region where a target containing a group-III element is disposed and the target is sputtered to generate material particles formed of a material contained in the target; and a second plasma generating region where the substrate is disposed and nitrogen-containing plasma is generated. The first plasma-generating region and the second plasma-generating region are provided inside a chamber, and the first plasma-generating region and the second plasma-generating region are separated by a shielding wall which has an opening part from which the material particles are supplied onto the substrate. Also disclosed are a method of producing a group-III nitride semiconductor layer, a method of producing a group-III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device, and a lamp thereof. | 12-11-2008 |
20090114942 | APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER, GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GROUP-III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE, AND LAMP - The present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a group-III nitride semiconductor layer having high crystallinity. An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a group-III nitride semiconductor layer on a substrate | 05-07-2009 |
20090283795 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING GROUP III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, GROUP III NITRIDE SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE, AND LAMP - Provided is a method for producing a group III nitride semiconductor light emitting device capable of producing a group III nitride semiconductor light emitting device with excellent light emitting properties with excellent productivity; a group III nitride semiconductor light emitting device; and a lamp. | 11-19-2009 |
20120012889 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT - A semiconductor light emitting element ( | 01-19-2012 |
20120138999 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT- EMITTING ELEMENT, SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT- EMITTING DEVICE, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT- EMITTING ELEMENT, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT- EMITTING DEVICE, ILLUMINATION DEVICE USING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - The disclosed semiconductor light-emitting element is configured from layering an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer ( | 06-07-2012 |
20120235204 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT, LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE USING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting element ( | 09-20-2012 |
20120241721 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE - Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting element ( | 09-27-2012 |
20120241760 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT AND SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE - Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting element ( | 09-27-2012 |
20120261678 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING CHIP AND SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING CHIP - In producing a semiconductor light-emitting chip whose substrate is composed of a sapphire single crystal, cracking in semiconductor light-emitting elements in the obtained semiconductor light-emitting chip is suppressed. A semiconductor light-emitting chip is obtained by forming, on an element-group formation substrate on a front surface of which semiconductor light-emitting elements are formed, the front surface being composed of a C-plane of a sapphire single crystal, dividing grooves extending toward a first direction along an M-plane of the sapphire single crystal and the front surface of the substrate from a substrate front surface side (step | 10-18-2012 |
20120267673 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT-EMITTING ELEMENT, ELECTRODE STRUCTURE AND LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICE - It is an object to improve joining properties of electrodes and reliability of the electrodes for supplying electrical power to a semiconductor. The semiconductor light-emitting element includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, a transparent conductive layer, a p-electrode formed on the transparent conductive layer and an n-electrode formed on the n-type semiconductor layer. The p-electrode includes a p-side second metal layer composed of a metallic material containing Au and provided to be exposed to the outside and a p-side first metal layer composed of a metallic material containing Au with hardness higher than that of the metallic material composing the p-side second metal layer, the p-side first metal layer being provided closer to the transparent conductive layer than the p-side second metal layer along the p-side second metal layer. | 10-25-2012 |
20130037825 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING CHIP AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SUBSTRATE - Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting chip ( | 02-14-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090318785 | REAL - TIME SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, REAL - TIME SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, REAL-TIME SIMULTANEOUS MEASUREMENT METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM IN WHICH PROGRAM IS STORED - A real-time simultaneous measurement apparatus includes: a hemoglobin information-receiving portion that sequentially receives hemoglobin information, which is information relating to the amount of hemoglobin in a head portion of a test subject, from a NIRS brain-measuring apparatus that receives a synchronization signal output by a synchronization signal output apparatus and acquires the hemoglobin information when the synchronization signal has been received; a brain wave information-receiving portion that sequentially receives the brain wave information of the test subject, from an EEG brain wave-measuring apparatus that receives a synchronization signal output by the synchronization signal output apparatus and acquires the brain wave information when the synchronization signal has been received; a synchronization processing portion that performs processing that synchronizes the hemoglobin information and the brain wave information; and an output portion that outputs the synchronized hemoglobin information and brain wave information. | 12-24-2009 |
20120035765 | BRAIN INFORMATION OUTPUT APPARATUS, ROBOT, AND BRAIN INFORMATION OUTPUT METHOD - A brain information output apparatus includes an intention determination information storage unit in which two or more pieces of intention determination information can be stored, with each intention determination information including a pair of an intention identifier, and a learning feature amount group including one or more feature amounts extracted from second learning data that is obtained by converting first learning data into intracerebral brain activity data, the first leaning data being acquired from the outside of the cranium of a user when the user performs a trial according to one intention; a first brain activity data acquiring unit that acquires first brain activity data from the outside of the cranium of a user; a second brain activity data acquiring unit that converts the first brain activity data to intracerebral brain activity data, and acquires second brain activity data; a feature amount group acquiring unit that acquires, from the second brain activity data, an input feature amount group including one or more feature amounts; an intention identifier acquiring unit that acquires an intention identifier corresponding to the input feature amount group based on the two or more pieces of intention determination information; and an intention identifier output unit that outputs the intention identifier. | 02-09-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090092413 | Photosensitive member cartridge - The invention provides a photosensitive member cartridge, that has, for example, a case including a bottom wall, an upper wall, and side walls. A photosensitive drum and a transfer roller are rotatably disposed in a space surrounded by the bottom wall, the upper wall, and the side walls. The bottom wall extends below the transfer roller. A developer cartridge, having a developing roller, is set on the extending portion of the bottom wall. | 04-09-2009 |
20090190953 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a support frame configured to support a plurality of cartridges each including a photoconductor is allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus. A plurality of light-emitting parts configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor to light are arranged in each exposure unit which is movable between an exposure position proximate to the corresponding photoconductor and a retreating position away from the photoconductor. A pair of side plates of the support frame, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a main direction in which the light-emitting parts are arranged, has guide slots formed therein, each of which is configured to guide movement of a corresponding exposure unit between its exposure and retreating positions. Each guide slot includes a positioning portion configured to position the exposure unit in position in a subordinate direction perpendicular to the main direction and to an exposure direction. | 07-30-2009 |
20090190954 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a plurality of photoconductors arranged in the apparatus is supported by a support frame which is allowed to be pulled out from a body of the apparatus; and an endless intermediate transfer belt looped around a first roller and a second roller is in contact with each of the plurality of photoconductors. The first roller is supported by the body of the apparatus and retained in a position fixed relative to the body of the apparatus, and the support frame comprises a positioning portion which is configured to support a roller shaft of the second roller or a bearing part of the roller shaft of the second roller and to retain the intermediate transfer belt in a position fixed relative to the plurality of photoconductors. | 07-30-2009 |
20100296836 | Photosensitive member cartridge - A photosensitive member cartridge for use with an image-forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and a cartridge case comprising an upper wall, a bottom wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall. An outer surface of the upper wall faces upwards when the photosensitive member cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus. The right side wall extends upwardly from a right side of the bottom wall, and the left side wall extends upwardly from a left side of the bottom wall. The upper wall connects upper edges of the right side wall and the left side wall. A light-entrance portion is formed in the upper wall and is configured to allow a laser beam to pass through the upper wall and reach the photosensitive drum when the photosensitive member cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus. | 11-25-2010 |
20110188888 | Photosensitive member cartridge - A photosensitive member cartridge for use with an image-forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum and a cartridge case comprising an upper wall, a bottom wall, a right side wall, and a left side wall. An outer surface of the upper wall faces upwards when the photosensitive member cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus. The right side wall extends upwardly from a right side of the bottom wall, and the left side wall extends upwardly from a left side of the bottom wall. The upper wall connects upper edges of the right side wall and the left side wall. A light-entrance portion is formed in the upper wall and is configured to allow a laser beam to pass through the upper wall and reach the photosensitive drum when the photosensitive member cartridge is installed in the image-forming apparatus. | 08-04-2011 |
20110293325 | Drum Unit, Development Cartridge Detachably Attachable to the Drum Unit, and Image Forming Apparatus Having the Drum Unit and the Development Cartridge - A drum unit is provided, which includes a frame configured such that a development cartridge including a pressed portion is detachably attached thereto, and a pressing member. The development cartridge is movable between a pressed state where the pressed portion is pressed by the pressing member when attached to the frame and a released state where the pressed portion is released from pressing of the pressing member when the development cartridge is attached to the frame. The pressing member includes a pressing section that contacts and presses the pressed portion when the development cartridge is in the pressed state, and a restriction section configured to, when the development cartridge is in the pressing state, restrict movement of the pressed portion in a released direction, in which the pressed portion moves when the development cartridge moves from the pressing state to the released state. | 12-01-2011 |
20120070189 | Image Forming Apparatus - In an image forming apparatus, a support frame configured to support a plurality of cartridges each including a photoconductor is allowed to be pulled out from a casing of the apparatus. A plurality of light-emitting parts configured to expose a corresponding photoconductor to light is arranged in each exposure unit which is movable between an exposure position proximate to the corresponding photoconductor and a retreating position away from the photoconductor. A pair of side plates of the support frame, which extends in a direction perpendicular to a main direction in which the light-emitting parts are arranged, has guide slots formed therein, each of which is configured to guide movement of a corresponding exposure unit between its exposure and retreating positions. Each guide slot includes a positioning portion configured to position the exposure unit in position in a subordinate direction perpendicular to the main direction and to an exposure direction. | 03-22-2012 |
20130051852 | Developer Cartridge Having Developing Roller - The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, an input gear, a developing roller gear, a supply roller gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second intermediate gear. The input gear is inputted with a drive force from an outside. The developing roller gear rotates about a first axis to drive the developing roller by the drive force. The supply roller gear rotates about a second axis parallel to the first axis to drive the supply roller by the drive force. The first intermediate gear rotates about the second axis. The first intermediate gear engages the input gear to receive the drive force therefrom. The second intermediate gear is engaged with the first intermediate gear and the developing roller gear so as to transmit the drive force from the first intermediate gear to the developing roller gear. | 02-28-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100155122 | BIOMASS-DERIVED EPOXY COMPOUND AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - There is disclosed a biomass-derived epoxy compound as an epoxidized product of a raw-material biomass-derived compound having a weight-average molecular weight of 300 to 10000. The biomass-derived epoxy compound has a weight-average molecular weight of 600 to 20000 and is soluble in an organic solvent for the preparation of a varnish. The epoxy compound is prepared by dissolving the raw-material biomass-derived compound in an aqueous alkali solution; adding epichlorohydrin to the solution and heating the mixture; and evaporating epichlorohydrin from the heated mixture and precipitating a biomass-derived epoxy compound, in which the aqueous alkali solution has a pH of 13.5 to 11.0. The biomass-derived epoxy compound has both high solubility in organic solvents and satisfactory heat resistance and can be manufactured in a high yield on the basis of the raw material through a less number of processes. | 06-24-2010 |
20100255315 | EPOXY RESIN COMPOSITION - Provided is an epoxy resin composition which excels in heat resistance properties and electrical properties, and is easily decomposable for the recycling of resources. | 10-07-2010 |
20110024168 | BIOMASS-DERIVED EPOXY RESIN COMPOSITION - A recyclable epoxy resin composition using a plant biomass in a resin skeleton and a cured material of the epoxy resin composition, and various types of products using them are provided. | 02-03-2011 |
20120190812 | PLANT-BASED POLYCARBONATE RESIN AND PRODUCTION METHOD THEREOF - Provided is an environmentally friendly novel plant-based polycarbonate resin. Specifically, disclosed are: a plant-based polycarbonate resin which is a polymer derived from a plant-based material having a plurality of hydroxyl groups, in which molecules of the plant-based material are linked to each other through carbonate groups to form the polymer; and a production method of the polycarbonate resin. | 07-26-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090189181 | Semiconductor device having insulated gate semiconductor element, and insulated gate bipolar transistor - A semiconductor device having an IGBT includes: a substrate; a drift layer and a base layer on the substrate; trenches penetrating the base layer to divide the base layer into base parts; an emitter region in one base part; a gate element in the trenches; an emitter electrode; and a collector electrode. The one base part provides a channel layer, and another base part provides a float layer having no emitter region. The gate element includes a gate electrode next to the channel layer and a dummy gate electrode next to the float layer. The float layer includes a first float layer adjacent to the channel layer and a second float layer apart from the channel layer. The dummy gate electrode and the first float layer are coupled with a first float wiring on the base layer. The dummy gate electrode is isolated from the second float layer. | 07-30-2009 |
20110220962 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING INSULATED GATE SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT, AND INSULATED GATE BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR - A semiconductor device having an IGBT includes: a substrate; a drift layer and a base layer on the substrate; trenches penetrating the base layer to divide the base layer into base parts; an emitter region in one base part; a gate element in the trenches; an emitter electrode; and a collector electrode. The one base part provides a channel layer, and another base part provides a float layer having no emitter region. The gate element includes a gate electrode next to the channel layer and a dummy gate electrode next to the float layer. The float layer includes a first float layer adjacent to the channel layer and a second float layer apart from the channel layer. The dummy gate electrode and the first float layer are coupled with a first float wiring on the base layer. The dummy gate electrode is isolated from the second float layer. | 09-15-2011 |
20150048510 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a metal film formed on the semiconductor substrate. The metal film includes a Ni base and a material having condensation energy higher than that of Ni. In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a semiconductor substrate and a target, which is formed by melting P in Ni, are prepared, and sputtering is performed with the target while a portion of the semiconductor substrate where the metal film is to be formed is heated to a temperature of from 280° C. inclusive to 870° C. inclusive. | 02-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090122159 | IMAGE FILE REPRODUCTION DEVICE AND IMAGE FILE REPRODUCTION METHOD - A method of reproducing an image file from a recording medium that stores an image file of a first type and/or an image file of a second type includes reproducing the first type of image file or second type of image file, detecting whether each of a predetermined number of image files stored on the recording medium is the first type of image file or the second type of image file during the reproduction of an image file, and converting the second type of image file to the first type of image file by reading the main image data from the second type of image file, generating display-image data (image data for display use) based on the read main image data, and storing the generated display-image data in the original image file if the image file is determined to be the second type of image file based on the detection result. The first type of image file is an image file containing a header, main image data, and display-image data, and storing the display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The second type of image file is an image file containing a header and main image data, and storing no display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The image files of predetermined number being image files that can be reproduced when reproduction is done in the forward and/or reverse direction from the image file being reproduced. | 05-14-2009 |
20090154833 | IMAGE FILE REPRODUCTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE DATA REPRODUCTION APPARATUS - An image file reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit that reads an image file from a storage medium storing image files capable of storing plural pieces of image data and reproduces the read image file, a first operation unit that receives a command for selecting any one of image files stored in the storage medium, and a second operation unit that receives a command for selecting any one of image data stored in the image file selected by the command received by the first operation unit. The reproduction unit controls selection of image data to be reproduced in a different way according to the operation made on the respective operation units. | 06-18-2009 |
20090167873 | IMAGE DATA TRANSFER APPARATUS - An image data transfer apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires predetermined information for at least one image file, from a storage medium storing a image file which can store plural pieces of image data, an ID adding unit that adds identification information to at least a part of all pieces of image data stored in at least one image file, based on the acquired predetermined information, a unit that receives a command for selecting at least one of all pieces of the image data each of which is added with the identification information, a transmission unit that transmits the identification information of the selected image data to the external device, and an image data transmission unit that transmits image data in response to a request from the external device. | 07-02-2009 |
20110181759 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CORRECTION METHOD OF IMAGE DATA - An imaging apparatus is provided for reducing noise which is derived from random noise contained in a correction signal used for correcting an image data and is newly generated on correction of the image data. The imaging apparatus drives vertical transfer registers with no signal charge from photoelectric transducers read out to the vertical transfer registers to obtain and store a correction signal into a field memory. The apparatus subtracts the correction signal from the image data by a subtractor. | 07-28-2011 |
20110211092 | IMAGE FILE REPRODUCTION DEVICE AND IMAGE FILE REPRODUCTION METHOD - A method of reproducing an image file from a recording medium that stores an image file of a first type and/or an image file of a second type includes reproducing the first type of image file or second type of image file, detecting whether each of a predetermined number of image files stored on the recording medium is the first type of image file or the second type of image file during the reproduction of an image file, and converting the second type of image file to the first type of image file by reading the main image data from the second type of image file, generating display-image data (image data for display use) based on the read main image data, and storing the generated display-image data in the original image file if the image file is determined to be the second type of image file based on the detection result. The first type of image file is an image file containing a header, main image data, and display-image data, and storing the display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The second type of image file is an image file containing a header and main image data, and storing no display-image data in an area other than an area storing the header. The image files of predetermined number being image files that can be reproduced when reproduction is done in the forward and/or reverse direction from the image file being reproduced. | 09-01-2011 |