Abstract: The invention relates to a transport and gliding device for surfboards, comprising a guided stream of water influenc-ing the action of the surfboard, and a plurality of flexible parallel tubes (1) which are inclined at an angle (2) and have a non-abrasive, pressure-insensitive cover. Water flows upstream through said tubes which are preferably arranged or fixed on a solid base with spac-ers. In the region of the board gliding thereover, the cross-section of the tubes is reduced to a maximum value of zero by the gliding and squashing edge (5) of the board. In this way, the upwardly flowing water column (3) in the tube moves the board (4) with the surfer upwards. Strong jets of water (8) are also sprayed upwards on the surface of the tube, hitting the lower side of the board when it tilts and thus also pushing the board with the surfer upwards. The inventive gliding device can either be used in a buoyant manner on a lake, on the land or in areas with pools.

Abstract: A slave interface is equipped with a register that stores a retry set value SRI that is unique for a slave device and a pseudo random number generator that generates a random number value RN, and when a non-acknowledgement response is sent corresponding to a transmission request REQb from a master device, the slave interface transmits non-acknowledgement response incidental information NAINFb that includes the retry set value SRI and the random number value RN to the master interface 2a. The master interface 2a extracts the retry set value SRI and the random number value RN from the non-acknowledgement response incidental information NAINFb, calculates a retry interval value by adding these, and when the interval time according to the retry interval value has passes, resends the transmission request REQb to the slave device. Since the retry interval time is independently set every time, live-lock may be prevented.

Abstract: An imager with an analog-to-digital converter having at least one ramp generator that precisely and efficiently produces the desired ramp voltages required by the analog-to-digital converter. The analog-to-digital converter can use differential or two ramp generators. The analog-to-digital converter can also use ramp generators operated in linear or compressed ramp modes.

Abstract: A program product is used by a control computer of an optical disc apparatus. The apparatus accesses plural types of optical discs. The control computer recognizes one type of optical disc out of the plural types of optical discs based on history information including a type of optical disc used in times past according to the program. The control computer then judges whether the type of set optical disc is identified with the recognized type of optical disc.

Abstract: An imager with dual conversion gain floating diffusion regions. The dual conversion gain regions yield (1) high conversion gain and sensitivity to achieve excellent low light performance and (2) high full well capacity and conversion gain to achieve high dynamic range. A dual conversion gain element is coupled between each floating diffusion node and a respective capacitor. The dual conversion gain element switches in the capacitance of the capacitor to change the conversion gain of the floating diffusion node from a first conversion gain to a second conversion gain. The imager may be a CMOS or CCD type imager.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the response times of computer system components in order to improve computer system reliability and performance are provided. The method and apparatus are particularly applicable to computer systems with memory circuits, such as SLDRAMs, that have programmable response times. A response time monitoring circuit in the form of a phase detector includes a plurality of flip-flops with the data inputs commonly connected to receive a response ready signal from a component, such as a memory circuit, in response to a command to perform a task. Each clock input of the flip-flop is connected to a clock signal at a different phase of a response period. The outputs of the flip-flops determine the phase at which the response ready signal was generated by the component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic sensor provided with a magnetoresistive effect element capable of stably maintaining a direction of magnetization in a magnetic domain of a free layer. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistive effect element provided with narrow zonal portions including a pinned and a free layer. Disposed below both ends of the free layer are bias magnet films that apply a bias magnetic field to the free layer and an initializing coil 31 disposed near the free layer. Further, magnetizing the bias magnet films and fixing a direction of magnetization of the pinned layer are performed by a magnetic field formed by a magnet array configured such that permanent magnets are arranged on a lattice point of a tetragonal lattice wherein magnet pole polarity is different from adjacent magnet pole polarity spaced by the shortest route.

Abstract: In an electronic data managing system, predetermined attribute values of attribute values of the electronic data are assigned to attribute items different from attribute items to which the attribute values have been assigned at a copy-to apparatus. Then, the predetermined attribute values assigned to the different attribute items by the assigning part are transmitted to a copy-to apparatus.

Abstract: A method of decoding turbo-encoded, received data in CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system which carries out closed-loop control to electric power of a data transmitter, based on a signal to interference ratio, includes the steps of (a) weighting reverse-diffused, received data, based on both the signal to interference ratio and data obtained when the signal to interference ratio is measured, (b) carrying out ACS operation or comparison/selection operation in a process of updating alpha metric, a process of updating beta metric, and a process for computing likelihood, to the thus weighted, received data, and (c) compensating for results of the ACS operation, based on a predetermined value associated with a difference generated when the ACS operation or the comparison/selection operation is carried out.

Abstract: A varistor is provided which can be driven at a low voltage, has a small leak current, and can realize a high ESD resistance and a high surge resistance. The varistor is formed using a ceramic composition for a varistor which contains zinc oxide as a primary component and sub-components including praseodymium at a content of 0.05 to 3.0 atomic percent of the total, cobalt at a content of 0.5 to 10 atom percent of the total, at least one of potassium, sodium, and lithium at a total content of 0.005 to 0.5 atom percent of the total, at least one of aluminum, gallium, and indium at a total content of 2×10?5 to 0.5 atom percent of the total, and zirconium at a content of 0.005 to 5.0 atom percent of the total.

Abstract: The present invention provides an increased degree of uniformity of radiation dose distribution for the interior of a diseased part. A particle beam therapy system includes a charged particle beam generation apparatus and an irradiation apparatus. An ion beam is generated by the charged particle beam generation apparatus. The irradiation apparatus exposes a diseased part to the generated ion beam. A scattering device, a range adjustment device, and a Bragg peak spreading device are installed upstream of a first scanning magnet and a second scanning magnet. The scattering device and the range adjustment device are combined together and moved along a beam axis, whereas the Bragg peak spreading device is moved independently along the beam axis. The scattering device moves to adjust the degree of ion beam scattering. The range adjustment device moves to adjust ion beam scatter changes caused by an absorber thickness adjustment.

Abstract: A waterproof structure for an electronic apparatus of the present invention includes keybuttons positioned such that their ends appear via holes formed in the casing of the apparatus. A circuit board is loaded with switches configured to selectively open or close when the keybuttons associated therewith are operated. A sheet member is formed of an elastic material and intervenes between the keybuttons and the circuit board. The sheet member includes, at least in its peripheral portion thereof, a seal portion for preventing water or similar liquid from entering the apparatus and reaching the surface of the circuit board. When the sheet member is pressed between the casing and the circuit board, the seal portion is at least partly pressed against the inside surface of the casing while being subject to a bending load.

Abstract: A recordable optical information recording medium having an address t for each sector, comprises: an area A1 starting from an address t1 to which access is made only when a recording apparatus performs recording operation; an area A2 starting from an address t2 to which access is made either when the recording apparatus performs the recording operation or when the recording apparatus performs reproducing operation; and an area A3 starting from an address t3 to which access is made either when either the recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatus performs recording or when either the recording apparatus or the reproducing apparatus performs reproducing. The addresses t are set consecutively with respect to a physical arrangement of the sectors in each of the areas A2 and A3, and the area A1 has at least one inconsecutive part at which the addresses t are not consecutive with respect to the physical arrangement of the sectors.

Abstract: A digital logic circuit comprises a programmable logic device and a programmable security circuit. The programmable security circuit stores a set of authorized configuration security keys. The programmable security circuit compares the authorized configuration security keys with an incoming configuration request, and selectively enables a new configuration for the programmable logic device in response to the configuration request. In another exemplary embodiment, a programmable security circuit also stores a set of authorized operation security keys. The programmable security circuit compares the authorized operation security keys with an incoming operation request from the programmable logic device, and selectively enables an operation within the programmable logic device in response to the operation request.

Abstract: A document retrieval apparatus for retrieving a document including a query character string among a plurality of registered documents includes a text separating unit which separates the registered documents and a query character string into n-grams and words, an n-gram index which stores therein information about occurrences of n-grams appearing in the registered documents on a n-gram-specific basis, a word-boundary-position index which stores therein information about occurrences of word boundaries appearing in the registered documents in a compressed form, a character-string-based search unit which identifies one or more registered documents including the query character string by looking up one or more n-grams of the query character string in the n-gram index, and a word-based search unit which checks whether the query character string appears as word in the one or more identified registered documents by looking up one or more words of the query character string in the word-boundary-position index, thereby

Abstract: An information recording apparatus and method can prevent an information recording medium having a plurality of recording layers from being incompatible with a reproduction-only information recording medium due to an unrecorded area, which is produced by completion of recording in a middle of a data area of the recording layer. The recording layers include at least a first recording layer and a second recording layer, the first recording layer providing a reference with respect to a position of said data area in each of the recording layers. The user data is recorded in response to a recording request. After recording the user data, predetermined data is recorded in a predetermined unrecorded area in the second recording layer.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly generating a series of non-repeating, deterministic, pseudo-random addresses is disclosed. A deterministic, pseudo-random number generator is implemented in hardware. Once a number in a pseudo-random sequence is generated, a pattern eliminator alters the number to remove any pattern existing in the low order bits. The number may then be combined with an offset and a base to form a memory address for testing a memory device. The generated memory address is output directly to the memory device being tested.

Abstract: The invention provides an elevated photodiode for image sensors and methods of formation of the photodiode. Elevated photodiodes permit a decrease in size requirements for pixel sensor cells while reducing leakage, image lag and barrier problems typically associated with conventional photodiodes.