Abstract: The present invention provides a friction material having compatibility between a high effectiveness and a long life. For that purpose, a titanate compound and a cerium oxide are contained in the friction material, wherein the cerium oxide has an average particle size of 1 ?m or less.

Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor device including a step of forming separation grooves in scribing regions defined at boundary portions between a plurality of semiconductor-device forming portions formed on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate; a step of defining portions of the scribing regions in the semiconductor substrate as substrate connecting portions; and a step of cutting off the substrate connecting portions along the separation grooves, to thereby separate the plurality of semiconductor-device forming portions into chips. These production steps contribute to a higher working efficiency in a later assembling process and to improved mass-production.

Abstract: A self-acting air bearing wherein an abrasion-generated substance is generated by rotation of a shaft and a bearing and is used as a lubricant. As a result, a motor of low cost and stable rotation in which it is not necessary to insert special lubricant into the shaft or the bearing previously can be achieved. Moreover, in a polygon motor having such a lubrication structure, since polluting of a writing system is not feared, reliability for a long time period can be obtained.

Abstract: A center-to-end type information service system utilizing the public telephone networks that are fundamental communication media of nation-wide scale is disclosed in which desired information is requested from the terminal side to the center by means of a telephone set or simplified keyboard and then delivered to and received by a TV receiver. A part of the center functions is transferred together with the exchange function to a subcenter located near the terminal. Thus, the length of transmission path connecting the center to terminals becomes shorter and the cost of the whole system can be cut down.