Abstract: A multilayer deposition multipixel image pickup device comprising a pixel unit, wherein the pixel unit comprises: a plurality of electromagnetic absorption layers being capable of absorbing electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths and performing photoelectric conversion; at least one pair of electrodes that sandwich each of electromagnetic absorption layers; a charge transfer and charge read part; and a plurality of contact parts that couple at least one of the electrodes and the charge transfer and charge read part, wherein a length between outermost surfaces of ones among electrodes of the pixel unit is smaller than a pixel size that is a circle-equivalent diameter of the same area as a first electromagnetic absorption layer of the electromagnetic absorption layers, the first electromagnetic absorption layer having a largest area in said plurality of electromagnetic absorption layers.

Abstract: An endless belt (11) to be provided on a driven pulley (4b) and a pulley rotation support apparatus for supporting the driven pulley (4b). In the pulley rotation support apparatus, there is used a three-point-contact-type or four-point-contact-type radial ball bearing (14b). An offset quantity ?, which is an axial-direction distance between the center ? of a radial load applied from the endless belt (11) to the driven pulley (4b) and the center position ? of the radial ball bearing (14b), is set 40% or less of the pitch circle diameter of the radial ball bearing (14b). The radial clearance of this radial ball bearing (14b) is set 0.2% or less of the above pitch circle diameter.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive capable of achieving error recovery stably in a simple configuration in the event of thermal asperity (TA) and minimizing the error recovery time required, and a method for controlling the disk drive. According to one embodiment, if TA occurs, a cutoff frequency of a high-pass filter to which a data read signal is input is first increased and a loop gain of a low-order finite impulse response (FIR) filter connected in series to an FIR filter is also increased as high as possible. Next, a Viterbi decoder to which a signal is input from the low-order FIR filter provides feedback to the low-order FIR filter so that an input signal error becomes a minimum. Tap coefficients of the low-order FIR filter are thus optimized.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention perform a stable data write operation at a low operating ambient temperature and promptly perform a write command process within a magnetic recording apparatus that employs a load/unload design. In one embodiment, write heads unloaded on a ramp are completely preheated before magnetic disks reach their rated rotation speed. This preheat operation takes time T1. After completion of write head preheating, the write heads are loaded from the ramp. This loading operation takes time T2. Since time T1 and time T2 do not sequentially elapse, it is possible to prevent a write operation from being rendered unstable by thermal protrusion while expediting a write command process.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus has a stage, guide elements provided on both ends of the stage, and drive elements which are provided at one of both ends of the stage and move the stage along the guide elements. Like linear guide rails 61A, 61B and linear guide bearings 23A, 23B, two guide elements are provided in an area where a ball screw shaft 52 serving as a drive element is placed. One guide element is provided in an area where a non-drive element is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to setting optimum FIR filter coefficients. In one embodiment, a POR (Power On Reset) control block acquires temperature data from a thermistor. If the temperature is the first to have been detected as falling within a low temperature range, a filter coefficient determining block in a read/write channel determines filter coefficients of a FIR filter by using the signal acquired from the magnetic disk. The determined filter coefficients are set to the FIR filter. If the temperature data does not satisfy the above-mentioned condition, filter coefficients registered in a filter coefficient table are set to the FIR filter.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide the manufacturing method for a magnetic disk drive that includes the process steps of detecting and processing in a simplified way the defective sectors causing a reading error at low operating environmental temperatures. In one embodiment, defective sectors are detected by read/write testing at high operating environmental temperatures from, for example, 40° C. to 65° C. Reading the data written on the defective sectors makes it obvious that the gain in a high-frequency band is reduced. After test data has been written onto each sector, the filtering coefficient of an FIR element that is set for a data-reading system is changed from the optimum value. The frequency gain is thus reduced. Next, the test data is read and the sectors that have caused a reading error are registered as defectives.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention perform a stable data write operation at a low operating ambient temperature and promptly perform a write command process within a magnetic recording apparatus that employs a load/unload design. In one embodiment, write heads unloaded on a ramp are completely preheated before magnetic disks reach their rated rotation speed. This preheat operation takes time T1. After completion of write head preheating, the write heads are loaded from the ramp. This loading operation takes time T2. Since time T1 and time T2 do not sequentially elapse, it is possible to prevent a write operation from being rendered unstable by thermal protrusion while expediting a write command process.

Abstract: Spherical members 7 are provided between plural pairs of axial grooves 3, 5 which are respectively formed on the outer peripheral surface of a male shaft 1 and on the inner peripheral surface of a female shaft 2, a leaf spring 9 for preload is interposed between the axial groove of the male shaft and the spherical member, and columnar members 8 are provided between another plural pairs of axial grooves 4, 6 which are respectively formed on the outer peripheral surface of the male shaft 1 and on the inner peripheral surface of the female shaft 2. Moreover, the radius of curvature of a transverse cross section of the axial groove 5 on the side of the female shaft 2 in which the spherical member 7 is rotated is set as 55% or less of the diameter of the spherical member 7.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention make it possible to conduct stable recording on a magnetic disk, even in case of changes in flying height due to thermal protrusion. In one embodiment, a compensatory recording current value A2 is used when a first section of user data is recorded in the required number of data sectors from the data sector of the starting address for recording the user data to the data sector of an intermediate address. A recording current value A3 smaller than the compensatory recording current value is used when a second section of user data is recorded in the data sectors existing from the data sector of the intermediate address towards the ending address.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a structure which not only can be reduced in size but also can secure the durability of an endless belt (11) to be provided on a driven pulley (4b) and a pulley rotation support apparatus for supporting the driven pulley (4b). In the invention, as the above pulley rotation support apparatus, there is used a three-point-contact-type or four-point-contact-type radial ball bearing (14b). An offset quantity ?, which is an axial-direction distance between the center ? of a radial load applied from the endless belt (11) to the driven pulley (4b) and the center position ? of the radial ball bearing (14b), is set 40% or less of the pitch circle diameter of the radial ball bearing (14b). The radial clearance of this radial ball bearing (14b) is set 0.2% or less of the above pitch circle diameter.

Abstract: A multilayer deposition multipixel image pickup device comprising a pixel unit, wherein the pixel unit comprises: a plurality of electromagnetic absorption layers being capable of absorbing electromagnetic waves of different wavelengths and performing photoelectric conversion; at least one pair of electrodes that sandwich each of electromagnetic absorption layers; a charge transfer and charge read part; and a plurality of contact parts that couple at least one of the electrodes and the charge transfer and charge read part, wherein a length between outermost surfaces of ones among electrodes of the pixel unit is smaller than a pixel size that is a circle-equivalent diameter of the same area as a first electromagnetic absorption layer of the electromagnetic absorption layers, the first electromagnetic absorption layer having a largest area in said plurality of electromagnetic absorption layers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to setting optimum FIR filter coefficients. In one embodiment, a POR (Power On Reset) control block acquires temperature data from a thermistor. If the temperature is the first to have been detected as falling within a low temperature range, a filter coefficient determining block in a read/write channel determines filter coefficients of a FIR filter by using the signal acquired from the magnetic disk. The determined filter coefficients are set to the FIR filter. If the temperature data does not satisfy the above-mentioned condition, filter coefficients registered in a filter coefficient table are set to the FIR filter.

Abstract: A glow plug according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cylindrical metallic shell, an electrode rod disposed in a rear portion of the metallic shell, a heater disposed in a front portion of the metallic shell, and an electric insulator provided between an inner surface of the metallic shell and a circumferential surface of the electrode rod to keep the electrode rod insulated from the metallic shell. The metallic shell has a portion caulked to the electrode rod at a location axially corresponding to the electric insulator so that the circumferential surface of the electrode rod becomes deformed to define therein a recessed portion. The caulked portion is engaged in the recessed portion with the caulked portion with the electric insulator interposed between the caulked portion and the recessed portion, thereby securing the electrode rod in the metallic shell.

Abstract: A glow plug in which a ceramic heater is fixedly disposed in a metallic, cylindrical member such that a front end thereof projects from a front end of the cylindrical member, and the resultant cylindrical member is fixedly disposed in a plug body such that the front end of the cylindrical member projects from a front end of the body, and which readily provides a mounting structure such that, even when loosening arises at a joint between the body and the cylindrical member after the glow plug is mounted onto a cylinder head, the cylindrical member is prevented from dropping into the interior of an engine.

Abstract: A vehicle steering telescopic shaft having a male shaft and a female shaft so fitted to each other as not to be rotatable but to be slidable. First torque transmitting members are disposed between the male shaft and the female shaft, and roll when the male shaft and the female shaft make relative movements in axial directions. Elastic members are disposed adjacent in a radial direction to the first torque transmitting members and restrict them when rotated and apply a pre-load to the male shaft and the female shaft through the first torque transmitting members when not rotated. Second torque transmitting members are provided between the male shaft and the female shaft, and slide when the male shaft and the female shaft make the relative movements in the axial directions, and transmit a torque when rotated.

Abstract: In a flexible printed wiring board obtained by connecting metal bumps of a first flexible printed wiring part and connection pads of a second flexible printed wiring part, the first flexible printed wiring part is composed of a conductive layer and insulating layer adjacent thereto, holes A being provided in the insulating layer so as to reach the conductive layer, metal plugs being formed in these holes by an electrolytic plating method, metal bumps being produced by making the tips of these metal plugs project from the insulating layer. In this way, as many as possible flexible printed wiring boards can be obtained from a laminated sheet for flexible printed wiring of prescribed size.

Abstract: A radial ball bearing 14 of the three point contact type or four point contact type is used for the rolling bearing for a compressor pulley. The offset amount &dgr;, that is the axial distance between the center &agr; of the radial load applied to the follower pulley 4 from the endless belt 11, and the center &bgr; of the radial ball bearing 14 is 40% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. In addition, the radial clearance of the radial ball bearing 14 is 0.2% or less of the diameter of the pitch circle. With this construction, the durability of the rolling bearing to support the follower pulley 4 is secured while made compact.

Abstract: A joint structure which does not exhibit impaired joining strength induced by exposure to heat cycles and the occurrence of migration, in a ceramic heater for a glow plug or like device. A heating element 6 is embedded in a silicon nitride ceramic substrate 5. Lead wires 15 are joined to corresponding lead wire connection terminals 11, which are connected to the heating element 6 while electrical continuity is established therebetween, by use of a brazing metal 20 which contains a predominant amount of copper. The brazing metal 20 used for joining assumes the form of a brazing metal layer having a thickness of 30-400 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus has a stage, guide elements provided on both ends of the stage, and drive elements which are provided at one of both ends of the stage and move the stage along the guide elements. Like linear guide rails 61A, 61B and linear guide bearings 23A, 23B, two guide elements are provided in an area where a ball screw shaft 52 serving as a drive element is placed. One guide element is provided in an area where a non-drive element is provided.