Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate having Al or Al alloy electrodes formed on a surface of the substrate, a metal oxide film provided on the substrate and the electrodes. The metal oxide film is formed by a process including depositing a metal thin film having a thickness sufficiently thin so that the deposited metal thin film is discontinuous including voids, and oxidizing the discontinuous metal thin film, and the metal oxide film includes a continuous portion without voids covering the electrodes.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer element has at least one or more elastic layers and a toner releasing layer provided on the surface of the elastic layer and has a surface shape including minute projections up to 60 &mgr;m and at least 20 &mgr;m high. By providing the intermediate transfer element with such projections, easy separation with respect to a poorly separable recording medium, such as thin paper is achieved, and an image free from image defects, such as white speckles.

Abstract: In a SAW device comprising a piezoelectric single crystal substrate and electrodes on a surface thereof, the substrate is obtained by slicing a LiTaO3 or LiNbO3 material such that a plane containing axis X and perpendicular to a new axis Y obtained by rotating axis Y about axis X by an angle of 33°±9° becomes the substrate surface, and each electrode is a layered film including a titanium nitride layer and an aluminum layer thereon. The aluminum layer containing no grain boundaries ensures high efficiency, long life SAW devices experiencing no increase of electrical resistance.

Abstract: On a piezoelectric substrate 23, there are provided surface acoustic wave devices F1 and F2 in which predetermined circuit patterns are formed, and a package substrate 11 comprising side vias 16 formed in a caved manner in the thickness direction on side surfaces on which the surface acoustic wave devices are mounted. When the side vias 16 are each assumed to have the opening width &phgr; and the maximum depth D, a size satisfying &phgr;/2<D is assumed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent protrusion of a soldering fillet applied on the side via.

Abstract: A method of producing a wear-resistant protective film for a thermal head comprises depositing a wear-resistant protective film by sputtering on a thermal head which includes a substrate, and a heat-developing layer and a pair of electrodes formed on either the substrate or a heat-regenerative layer formed thereon. A layer of the wear resistant protective film is formed under a RF larger bias and another layer without a bias or with a smaller bias. Good step coverage is obtained by the RF sputter layer of the wear-resistant and the protective film prevents the intrusion of water that can cause cracking, and the layer formed under no or smaller bias reduces internal stresses and inhibits the development of cracks due to internal stresses as well as the cracking by RF sputtering.

Abstract: A method executed in a data processing system is provided for generating a list of media for playback from different types of audio and video media. Initially, a list of different types of media available for playback is identified. Based on the identification, the list of media is displayed. Using this list of media, a multimedia playlist is created including audio and video media from the list of media. Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for playing different types of audio and video media on different audio and video devices. Initially, a multimedia playlist having a list of audio and video media is loaded. The first entry of media in the multimedia playlist is selected for playback. This first entry of media is processed and played back on a device compatible with the first entry of media. A subsequent entry of media in the multimedia playlist is also selected for playback.

Abstract: One of the object of the present invention is to provide a surface acoustic wave filter can obtain a sufficient attenuation in the elimination band while it is mounted on the face down type package.

Abstract: A method of producing a wear-resistant protective film for a thermal head comprises depositing a wear-resistant protective film by sputtering on a thermal head which includes a substrate, and a heat-developing layer and a pair of electrodes formed on either the substrate or a heat-regenerative layer formed thereon. A layer of the wear resistant protective film is formed under a RF larger bias and another layer without a bias or with a smaller bias. Good step coverage is obtained by the RF sputter layer of the wear-resistant and the protective film prevents the intrusion of water that can cause cracking, and the layer formed under no or smaller bias reduces internal stresses and inhibits the development of cracks due to internal stresses as well as the cracking by RF sputtering.

Abstract: A system and method for interactive television (ITV) includes presenting both TV channels and “virtual channels” on an ITV. A virtual channel can be a Web page stored in memory of the ITV (or remote therefrom) and accessed by a microprocessor in the ITV when a user selects the virtual channel number using a conventional TV remote control. The particular Web page can be established based on consumer data, such as demographic data supplied by the consumer or consumer responses to prompts displayed along with a channel. The Web page associated with the virtual channel can be updated or changed by sending data to the ITV through the VBI of a TV signal or via the Internet, through a modem on the ITV.

Abstract: A software application that filters specific messages from an e-mail server is disclosed. A user specifies filtering criteria within the application, which then detects the arrival of an e-mail fulfilling the specified criteria, and notifies the user accordingly. The notification can consist of blinking an icon on a Set Top Box (STB) TV screen, making an audible sound, or activating a pager. The subject of the filter criteria can be an Instant Message or telephone call using Caller ID, instead of an e-mail message.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a SAW device having an electrode film on a lithium tantalate substrate having a cut angle approximate to 36 degree rotated Y cut, the electrode film including an aluminum single crystal film having improved power durability. The SAW device has interdigital electrodes on a substrate. The substrate is constructed of a 38 to 44 degree rotated Y cut lithium tantalate single crystal, each interdigital electrode includes a titanium film and an aluminum film formed thereon, and the aluminum film is a single crystal film which develops only spots on selected area electron diffraction analysis.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, doing business transactions on a network, such as the Internet, is described. Purchases are carried out in a secure way such that there is a minimum possibility that the customer's financial or billing information can be stolen. An input device, such as a set top box, television browser, is provided at a customer's location. The input device has a unique identification code. This code is stored on a first server connected to a network, such as the Internet, prior to conducting any transactions. Customer specific financial and/or billing information is also stored on the first server. The customer is then connected to the desired location on the network through a second server to conduct a transaction. The identification code of the input device is also provided to the second server connected to the network. The second server has secure access to the customer specific information located on the first server, for billing the customer.

Abstract: In a surface acoustic wave device of the invention, a metal oxide layer is formed on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate having electrodes comprising Al or an Al alloy in such a way as to cover at least the electrodes. The metal oxide layer is formed by oxidization of a metal layer thin enough to provide no continuous film. At least a region of the metal layer on the electrodes, wherein the metal layer is present in a discontinuous film form, is so changed by oxidization to a continuous film that more improved effect on prevention of corrosion is achievable. In addition, the provision of the metal oxide layer has no substantial influence on the electrical properties of the surface acoustic wave device.

Abstract: The surface acoustic wave device of the invention comprises a piezoelectric substrate made up of 64° rotated Y-cut lithium niobate (64LN) or 36° rotated Y-cut lithium tantalate (36LT) and an interdigital electrode formed thereon. The interdigital electrode comprises a titanium buffer metal film and an aluminum film formed thereon. On the 64LN substrate, both the titanium buffer metal film and the aluminum film are converted into a single-crystal film that manifests itself in a spot form alone upon selected-area electron diffraction. By forming the aluminum film on the 36LT substrate with the titanium buffer metal film located therebetween, it is possible to obtain a high-orientation, polycrystalline aluminum film oriented in the (111) direction. The aluminum film is made up of a single-crystal film or a high-orientation polycrystalline film oriented in the (111) direction, whereby migration of aluminum atoms is inhibited, resulting in a power-durability improvement.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus is capable of reducing color deviation of an image due to the influence of a variation in load of an intermediate transfer member and of carrying out high speed printing. A control unit for controlling an image forming process on the basis of the size of a recording medium sets, where a recording medium of a size smaller than the longest image length capable of forming a color image is subject to continuous image formation, a first mode for continuously carrying out a development process for forming a latent image and a toner image, and a second mode of incorporating a stop process for stopping the development process in the midst of the development process. This enables reduction of color deviation of an image caused by the influence of a variation in load of an intermediate transfer member and high speed printing also.

Abstract: In the electrode of a surface acoustic wave apparatus, the element concentration of copper in the aluminum alloy film is higher in the neighbors of grain boundary than the concentration within the crystal grain, and segregates to the neighbors of crystal grain boundary. In the electrode of this surface acoustic wave apparatus, the concentration of copper existing in the form of copper element, rather than in the form of intermetallic compound of copper and aluminum precipitated to the crystal grain boundary, is higher in the crystal grain boundary than the concentration within the crystal grain, and is in the segregation state. A ratio of a copper concentration in the neighbors of grain boundary to a copper concentration within the crystal grain in an aluminum alloy film forming an electrode of a surface acoustic wave apparatus is greater than 1.6. It is preferable that an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate is made of an aluminum alloy film doped with a copper in a range from 0.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display apparatus of this invention includes a pair of substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates having on a surface thereof: pixel electrodes arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of signal lines; and a plurality of nonlinear switching elements for connecting each of the plurality of signal lines to a corresponding column of pixel electrodes. Each switching element has a lower electrode, an insulating film formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the insulating electrode, the lower electrode being a branch of the corresponding signal line, wherein the lower electrode has a first portion with a width larger than a width of a second portion overlapping the insulating film and the upper electrode, the first portion being located farther from the corresponding signal line than the second portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for inputting coordinate information in which a relative coordinate mode and an absolute coordinate mode is automatically switched depending on a contact area. If a tablet is operated with a finger or a pen, a detection circuit detects the contact area. If the contact area is greater than a predefined threshold value, a signal corresponding to the relative coordinates of the point P at which the finger or the pen is contact with the tablet is output. If the contact area is equal to or smaller than the predefined threshold value, a signal corresponding to the absolute coordinates of the point P is output. The above output signal is supplied to a transmission module. The transmission module performs frequency modulation on the received signal and transmits the resultant signal via a transmission antenna. There are also provided buttons used for clicking operations.

Abstract: A percutaneous absorptive anesthetic is provided, wherein said anesthetic is formed by mixing a base agent of said anesthetic with one or two type of mixtures which has/have been selected from the groups, for example made of glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetic acid, glycyrrhetic acid derivatives glycyrrhetic acid 3.beta.-monohemisuccinate, glycyrrhetic acid 3.beta.-monohemisuccinate, 18.beta.-olean-12-ene-3.beta., 30-dihemiphthalate, 18.beta.-olean-9, (11)12-diene-3.beta., 30-diol-dihemiphthalate, olean-11,13(18)-diene-3.beta., 30-diol-dihemiphthalate or their pharmaceutically allowable salt.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer unit is constructed by covering a conductive cylindrical base member of drum-shape with an elastic member of belt-shape, the elastic member of belt-shape being adhesively fixed to the base member with an adhesive agent, grooves or pits being provided on the surface of the cylindrical base member, the elastic member of belt-shape being adhesively fixed by the adhesive agent filled in the grooves or pits. The adhesive agent has a resistivity smaller than at least the resistivity of the elastic member of belt-shape. By doing so, it is possible to construct and keep the uniform distribution of resistivity without change by environment and deterioration with age, and to realize proper transferring. Furthermore, since the diametrical change of the drum due to uneven application of the adhesive agent can be minimized, the effect on misalignment in color can be minimized.