An ESR study of the film formation steps of vapor deposition polymerization of polyamic acid

A film of polyamic acid is formed by vapor deposition polymerization of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA). We have taken ESR spectrum during the polymerization process and compared it with the ESR spectrum of films obtained from solution polymerization. In the intermediate polymers during vapor deposition polymerization, the amide bond (? CONH? ) is coplanar with the benzene ring and two protons in the PMDA molecule. This intermediate polymer has one unpaired electron that interacts with the two nitrogen nuclei equally. On the other hand, in the polymer obtained by solution polymerization, the amide bond and the benzene ring of PMDA are not coplanar. In this polymer, too, some of the molecules have an unpaired electron that seems to have almost no coupling with NH groups. These results imply that the polymer formation via vapor deposition proceeds through different intermediates and different molecular configurations from that via the solution process.     

Second-Order Efficiency for Two-Stage Estimation of a Linear Function of Normal Mean Vectors when Covariance Matrices Have Some Structures

Abstract

We consider two-stage estimation for a fixed-span confidence region about a linear function of mean vectors from π _i : N _p (μ _i , Σ _i ), i = 1,…,k (≥2), when Σ _i 's have some structures. The purpose of this article is to investigate asymptotic efficiency of the estimation up to the second order in terms of the sample size. An adjustment of the design constant and a proper choice of the initial sample size appearing in the two-stage estimation are proposed to have asymptotic second-order efficiency. Some simulations are carried out to see moderate sample size performances of the proposed two-stage estimation. An example is given for a demonstration.     

Evaluation of energy saving and CO2 emission reduction technologies in energy supply and end‐use sectors using a global energy model

Assessments of global warming mitigation technologies are important for achieving the Kyoto target and planning post‐Kyoto regimes. Regional differences in energy resources, growth in energy consumption, current technology diffusions, etc., should be considered in the assessments. A global energy systems model, DNE21+, with high regional resolution had treated the energy supply sectors in a bottom‐up fashion and the end‐use sectors in a top‐down fashion, which was expressed by using long‐term price elasticity. However, the assessments of technological options in the end‐use sectors are currently more important, particularly for the near and middle terms. In order to evaluate the technological options not only in the energy supply sectors but also in the end‐use sectors for energy savings and CO₂ emission reductions, DNE21+ has been modified for treating two energy‐intensive end‐use sectors, i.e. steel and cement sectors, in the bottom‐up fashion. The results reveal that the cost‐effective global CO₂ emission reductions in 2030 for stabilizing the atmospheric CO₂ concentration at 550 ppmv in comparison with that in the reference case would be approximately 68 MtC/yr and almost zero in the steel and cement sectors, respectively. The cost‐effective options include next‐generation coke ovens and coke dry quenching (CDQ) in the steel sector. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of fault cause estimation method for distribution line

We are planning to develop the new Advanced Distribution Automation System (ADAS) equipped with optical communication network and sectionalizer with sensor for more grid reliability and efficiency on maintenance operation. The new system is featured with the function of fault cause or damaged part estimation. The new sectionalizer captures the waveform of electrical line surge originated by fault and the system analyzes the waveform for this function. This paper mainly introduces the system configuration of ADAS and an early stage examination of fault cause estimation technology.     

Size dependence of THz region dielectric properties for barium titanate fine particles

Barium titanate (BaTiO₃) crystallites with various particle sizes from 22 to 500 nm were prepared by the two-step thermal decomposition method of barium titanyl oxalate. Various characterizations revealed that these particles were impurity-free, defect-free, dense BaTiO₃ particles. The powder dielectric measurement clarified that the dielectric constant of BaTiO₃ particles with a size of around 58 nm exhibited a maximum of over 15,000. To explain this size dependence, the THz region dielectric properties of BaTiO₃ fine particles, especially Slater mode frequency, were measured using the far infrared (FIR) reflection method. As the result, the lowest Slater mode frequency was obtained at 58 nm. This tendency was completely consistent with particle size dependence of the dielectric constant.     

Generalized measuring-worm algorithm: high-accuracy mapping and movement via cooperating swarm robots

Recently, many extensive studies have been conducted on robot control via self-positioning estimation techniques. In the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) method, which is one approach to self-positioning estimation, robots generally use both autonomous position information from internal sensors and observed information on external landmarks. SLAM can yield higher accuracy positioning estimations depending on the number of landmarks; however, this technique involves a degree of uncertainty and has a high computational cost, because it utilizes image processing to detect and recognize landmarks. To overcome this problem, we propose a state-of-the-art method called a generalized measuring-worm (GMW) algorithm for map creation and position estimation, which uses multiple cooperating robots that serve as moving landmarks for each other. This approach allows problems of uncertainty and computational cost to be overcome, because a robot must find only a simple two-dimensional marker rather than feature-point landmarks. In the GMW method, the robots are given a two-dimensional marker of known shape and size and use a front-positioned camera to determine the marker distance and direction. The robots use this information to estimate each other’s positions and to calibrate their movement. To evaluate the proposed method experimentally, we fabricated two real robots and observed their behavior in an indoor environment. The experimental results revealed that the distance measurement and control error could be reduced to less than 3 %.     

Chained aggregation model with minimum truncation error

A reduced–order model for a multi–input single–output or a single–input multi–output continuous system is proposed. The model is especially suitable for the case where accuracy in the high-frequency region is important. It also satisfies basic conditions for reduced-order models, such as uniqueness, stability, and a simple calculation requirement. Chained aggregation with the minimization of truncation errors introduces an internal system representation characterized by a system matrix of Hessenberg form and a diagonalized covariance matrix.     

Detection of fluorescence from a mixed specimen consisting of micro particles attached to different fluorescent substances using a light waveguide incorporated optical TAS

A “ubiquitous human health care system” will require a monolithic optical total analysis system (TAS) consisting of waveguides and microfluidic channels based on a transparent resin chip. Together with the rapid development of the fluorescent marking method, fluorescence analysis by TAS of mixed-microparticle specimen attached to different fluorescent substances will be necessary. Towards realization of this, we here propose a novel method for using a part of the fluorescence acquired by irradiating microparticles with AC-modulated laser power as light dedicated to the discrimination of fluorescent substances. Since the light power for discrimination was extremely weak, we extracted effective signal components using a lock-in detection method. Then, by comparison with the signal of the original fluorescence, we could determine whether the fluorescence signal was from the microparticles attached to the fluorescent substance to be discriminated. Using a mixed specimen composed of microparticle-attached fluorescent substances with emission peaks of 520 nm and 600 nm, we found that 10% of the acquired fluorescence could successfully determine the specified fluorescent substance as a discrimination signal. The peak value of the discrimination signal was approximately double the amplitude of the stationary noise in the discrimination signal.

     

Artificial retina chips for image processing

Artificial retina chips which can simultaneously sense and process real world images are described. The comparison between artificial retinal systems and conventional image processing systems is described. Variable sensitivity photodetection, which is an essential technology for the artificial retina chips, is introduced in detail. The concept, structure, fundamental performance, operating principle, and processing functions for the fabricated artificial retinal chips are described. Applications including interactive games by gesture-input are also introduced. This work was presented, in part, at the International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, February 18–20, 1996.     

ALIS method for high‐resolution color PDPs

This paper describes the Alternate Lighting of Surfaces (ALIS) method as a promising drive technology which can lead to high‐resolution plasma‐display panels (PDPs). This technology provides a resolution of more than 1000 scanning lines without lowering luminance, thus enabling the essential requirements of HDTV. Moreover, it allows the number of scanning electrodes to be halved in comparison with the conventional method, as well as the circuit scale to be minimized due to the use of the single scanning drive. The ALIS method is expected to be a key technology that will help PDPs penetrate the TV market.