Abstract: A temperature detection circuit has a first temperature sensor circuit that outputs a voltage having a negative temperature gradient and an absolute value and a second temperature sensor circuit that outputs a voltage having a positive temperature gradient and the same absolute value as that for the output voltage of the first temperature sensor circuit. A switch circuit conducts a switching operation in accordance with a control signal to switch between outputting the output voltage of the first temperature sensor circuit and the output voltage of the second temperature sensor circuit. A comparison circuit compares the output voltage from the first or second temperature sensor circuit with a reference voltage. A logic circuit outputs a temperature detection signal on the basis of the control signal and an output signal from the comparison circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a high voltage circuit section disposed on a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity. The high voltage circuit section has a well region with a second conductivity, a first heavily doped impurity region with the first conductivity and disposed on the well region, a second heavily doped impurity region having a second conductivity and disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a trench isolation region disposed between the first and second heavily doped impurity regions, and an interconnect disposed over the trench isolation region. First and second electrodes are disposed above the trench isolation region, below the interconnect, and on opposite sides of a junction between the well region and the semiconductor substrate. The first electrode is disposed above the semiconductor substrate, and the second electrode is disposed above the well region.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device has an SOI substrate comprising an insulating film laminated on a semiconductor support substrate and a semiconductor thin film laminated on the insulating film. A first N-channel MOS transistor, a first P-channel MOS transistor, and a resistor are each disposed on the semiconductor thin film. A second N-channel MOS transistor serving as an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection element is disposed on a surface of the semiconductor support substrate that is exposed by removing a part of the semiconductor thin film and a part of the insulating film. The second N-channel MOS transistor has a gate electrode, a source region and a drain region surrounding the source region through the gate electrode to maintain a constant distance between the drain region and the source region.

Abstract: A golf swing training and exercise system includes an optically reflective device, a golf device, a pair of light source devices, and a resistance device. The golf device has a center section that is placed on the back of a user during a golf swing training and exercise routine, two end sections extending outwardly from the center section, and a pair of intermediate sections that are disposed between and interconnect the center section and the respective end sections to one another and on which the user's hands or forearms are placed during the golf swing training and exercise routine. The light source devices are connected to respective distal ends of the end sections for projecting light beams on a reflective surface of the optically reflective device during a golf swing training and exercise routine. The resistance device is removably connected to the golf device to apply a resistance in at least one direction of movement of the golf device during the golf swing training and exercise routine.

Abstract: In an ink jet head driving method, a first drive pulse signal is transmitted to a first actuator that is formed in a first ink chamber confronting a print area on a recording medium and from which ink is to be discharged. The first drive pulse signal comprises a reserve drive pulse signal transmitted to temporarily increase a volume of the ink chamber and a discharge drive pulse signal transmitted sequentially with the reserve drive pulse signal to temporarily reduce the volume of the ink chamber and thereby cause ink to be discharged from the first ink chamber. In synchronization with the reserve drive pulse signal, a second drive pulse signal is transmitted to a second actuator that is formed in a second ink chamber confronting a non-print area of the recording medium adjacent to the print area thereof and that is configured to discharge ink.

Abstract: To provide an oscillating current converter fabricated by utilizing the MEMS technology making it possible to further decrease the size yet improving the conversion efficiency. An oscillating current converter 1 fabricated by using the MEMS technology and comprising a cantilever 4 having an opening 5 formed on the distal end side thereof and is cantilevered on the proximal end side thereof, a coil 6 wound around the opening 5 of the cantilever 4, and a magnet 8 arranged so as to enter into the inside of the opening 5 of the cantilever 4, wherein the cantilever 4 oscillates to generate an induced electromotive force in the coil 6.

Abstract: A thermal head driving IC for supplying voltage to a plurality of heating resistors each controlled by a driving MOS transistor includes a switch for making and breaking electrically between a substrate and a source of the plurality of driving MOS transistors. In a case where the plurality of heating resistors are activated, the plurality of driving MOS transistors are turned on and the switch is turned off, whereby the substrate potential is floated. As a result, the substrate potential is forward-biased against the source by a substrate current generated in a high-electric-field depletion region near the drain, and a parasitic bipolar transistor turns on, whereby both the plurality of driving MOS transistors and the parasitic bipolar transistor turn on. In a case where the plurality of heating resistors are not activated, a signal for turning off the plurality of driving NMOS transistors is given, and the switch is turned on.

Abstract: Provided is a printer that employs a platen roller as conveying means, for which the accuracy of the assembly of the constituents of a drive transmission mechanism that drives a platen roller is increased, and the heat releasing function of a motor that is a drive source is also improved, so that downsizing and increasing output can be coped with.

Abstract: An electric potential difference detection method detects an electric potential difference between a surface of a sample and a probe of a cantilever in a scanning probe microscope. An AC voltage having a frequency that is ½ of a resonance frequency of the cantilever is applied between the sample and the cantilever, and a magnitude of an amplitude of vibration of the cantilever is detected. On the basis of the detection, a determination is made as to whether an electric potential difference exists or does not exist between the surface of the sample and the cantilever probe. A determination that an electric potential difference between the surface of the sample and the cantilever probe does not exist is made in a case where the cantilever is resonating and the detected magnitude of the amplitude of vibration of the cantilever is greater than a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: An electronic pedometer has a case, a main circuit board mounted on the case and supporting an electronic circuit element for signal processing, and a sub-circuit board separate and independent from the main circuit board and mounted to a portion of the case. An acceleration sensor is mounted on the sub-circuit board for detecting a walk of a user and outputting a walk signal corresponding to the walk. A flexible conductive member electrically connects the main circuit board and the sub-circuit board to one another.

Abstract: A display device has a light source that radiates light from a light-emitting portion. A light guide body receives an incident light from the light-emitting portion of the light source and emits light. A display element is illuminated by light emitted from the light guide body and has a color filter having a coloring layer of RGB. A filter layer reflects components of light having a wavelength in a preselected region of 570 nm to 590 nm among the light radiated from the light source and emitted from the light guide body. A phosphor is excited by the components of light in the preselected region reflected by the filter layer and emits red light that passes through the filter layer and through the color filter of the display element.

Abstract: A thermal head has a heat storage layer provided on an insulating substrate and a heat generating resistance layer provided on the heat storage layer. An individual electrode and a common electrode are formed on the heat generating resistance layer, and a protective film layer covers the electrodes and the heat generating resistance layer. A resin covering layer is formed on the surface of the protective film layer by applying and drying fluorine-based resin particles dissolved in a solvent on the surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type and a resistor having a substantially U-shaped contour and being formed from an epitaxial layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate and having a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type. A first trench is formed around an exterior of the resistor to a depth sufficient enough to reach the semiconductor substrate. A second trench is formed in an interior of the resistor to provide the resistor with the U-shaped contour. First and second insulating films are disposed in the first and second trenches, respectively. A heavily-doped region of the second conductivity type having an impurity concentration sufficient to obtain a contact with a metal wire is arranged at both ends of the resistor.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device comprises a silicon substrate having front and rear surfaces, a semiconductor element formed on the front surface, and at least one through-hole penetrating through the front surface and the rear surface. At least one passive element is supported by the silicon substrate. At least one connecting element is disposed in the through-hole of the silicon substrate for electrically connecting the semiconductor element to the passive element.

Abstract: A vehicular sunroof apparatus includes a sunroof panel having a front panel and a rear panel configured to open and close an opening formed in a vehicle roof. A first drive mechanism effects rising/lowering and opening/closing movements of the front panel relative to the opening of the vehicle roof. A second drive mechanism effects rising/lowering and opening/closing movements of the rear panel relative to the opening of the vehicle roof. The second drive mechanism comprises a rear panel support stay that supports the rear panel, a stay extension connected to the rear panel support stay and mounted to undergo sliding and vertical swinging movement relative to the vehicle roof, and a stopper member that is mounted on the vehicle roof and that provides an upper limit of vertical swing of the stay extension.

Abstract: Provided is a heating resistance element component, including: a supporting substrate; an insulating film laminated on the supporting substrate; a plurality of heating resistors formed on the insulating film, the plurality of heating resistors being arranged in a zigzag shape along a main scanning direction and having a substantially square shape; a common wire connected to one end of each of the plurality of heating resistors; individual wires each connected to another end of the each of the plurality of heating resistors; and concave portions formed in regions which are opposed to the plurality of heating resistors and are located on a surface of the supporting substrate, in which an arrangement pitch of the plurality of heating resistors in a sub-scanning direction is larger than an arrangement pitch of the plurality of heating resistors in a main scanning direction.

Abstract: In order to realize an adjustment mechanism which can adjust the pressing force of a thermal head according to paper thickness, and in addition, which is suitable for a small thermal printer, in a small thermal printer in which a platen roller (11) is adapted to be detachably attachable to arms for rotatably holding the platen roller and room at the back of a thermal head where a spring (16) for pressing the thermal head (14) toward the platen roller is disposed is narrow, an auxiliary plate for receiving the spring is provided at the back of the thermal head, the auxiliary plate (13) is adapted to be approachable to or separable from a head support plate (15), and means (18, 41) which can adjust a position of the auxiliary plate with respect to a position of the head support plate (15) is provided.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided that is capable of controlling a photographic operation to provide favorable images of a fundus of an eye to be examined. When a normal photographic mode is selected, a single operation of a shutter button causes a single trigger signal to be generated. On the other hand, when a stereo photographic mode is selected, a single operation of a shutter button causes two trigger signals to be generated in succession. The generated trigger signal triggers a switching device so that a position of a photographic stop is automatically switched to a position predetermined for the photographic mode, and the photographic light source is caused to emit light a number of times that corresponds to the selected photographic mode. In such a configuration, fundus images are automatically produced a set number of times by a single operation of the shutter. Therefore, a high-quality fundus image can be obtained without concerns that an appropriate moment to capture an image will be missed.