Abstract: A partially reflecting optical component (11) generating, from an incident beam (12), two secondary beams, one of them being reflected (13), the other one being transmitted (14). According to the invention, it comprises a first wholly reflecting planar face (15) and a second partially reflecting planar face (16), the second face being perpendicular to the first one, a third wholly reflecting planar face (17), the first and third faces being in the same plane, this component providing the unidimensional auto-alignment of the reflected beam (13) with the incident beam (12), the respectively transmitted and reflected beams being each formed with two half-beams having matching wave fronts. The invention also relates to an external cavity laser source comprising such a component as a unidimensional auto-aligned reflector.

Abstract: In an ignition coil for an internal combustion engine, the primary coil and the secondary coil of the coil unit are fabricated of self-welding wire and fixed in a coil case by an elastic material and an ignition control circuit unit is fixed in the coil case by an elastic material. Similarly, the primary coil and the secondary coil are integrally joined by an adhesive. The terminal of the primary coil and the lead of the ignition control circuit unit are joined together by fusion and the joint is partially molded, while the terminal of the secondary coil and the terminal of a high-tension cord outlet are joined together by fusing and the joint is partially molded. Moreover, the coil case is provided with an inner cap such that the fusing and partial molding of the terminals can be conducted on the inner cap, thereby ensuring a high recycle rate and enabling efficient resource recovery and reuse.

Abstract: A plasma display panel comprises a front substrate and a rear substrate, a plurality of row electrode pairs provided on the inner surface of the front substrate, a dielectric layer provided on the inner surface of the front substrate for coverring the row electrode pairs, a plurality of column electrodes provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate, a partition wall assembly provided between the front substrate and the rear substrate, said partition wall assembly including a plurality of longitudinal partition walls and a plurality of lateral partition walls, forming a plurality of discharge cells. In particular, the dielectric layer has a plurality of projection portions located corresponding to and protruding toward the lateral partition walls of the partition wall assembly, in a manner such that there would be no slots formed between the dielectric layer and the lateral partition walls.

Abstract: A laser beam reflected on a storage surface of a DVD is detected with a light-receiving device to allow a matrix circuit to generate a push-pull signal. The push-pull signal is converted into a binary signal, and a base-n counter, having an upper-limit count which is set to a certain value, counts the resulting signal. A count circuit 8e having a prescribed count time period counts a carry signal which is delivered by the base-n counter. Then, a detection factor is determined from the ratio of the count of the carry signal to the count time period. When the detection factor is below a prescribed value, the upper-limit count of the base-n counter or the count time period is adjusted to control the detection sensitivity. A judgment portion compares a plurality of detection factors with a prescribed threshold to find a determination rate or the ratio of the number of detection factors to be compared with to the number of detection factors which exceed the prescribed threshold.

Abstract: A device for extending functions of a computer connected thereto adds a new function to functions of an existing extension unit. The device includes a non-volatile memory and a new extension unit connected to the non-volatile memory and capable of being connected to the computer via a bus and to the existing extension unit. The new extension unit transfers what is stored in the non-volatile memory to the computer when the computer requests attribute information of the existing extension unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device manufactured separately is connected to an interface unit of a semiconductor device. An internal memory formed in the semiconductor device is connected to at least a part of the interface unit. A memory selecting circuit makes the internal memory accessible in a first operation mode, and makes the internal memory inaccessible in a second operation mode. Therefore, for example, putting the semiconductor device into the first operation mode and accessing the internal memory enables the semiconductor device to operate as a predetermined system even when the semiconductor memory device is not connected to the interface unit. The substitution of the internal memory for the semiconductor memory device makes it possible for the semiconductor device to test the interface unit and associated circuits thereof by itself. This consequently allows improvement in the assembly yield of multichip modules.

Abstract: The present invention provides rolling element spacers used in a rolling guide unit provided with an endless circulating passage for balls; arranged with plural balls alternately therewith in the endless circulating passage; and circulated with these balls in the endless circulating passage. Each of the rolling element spacers has a pair of retaining seats which the balls contact, and is formed so that, on a ball cutting plane perpendicular to the center of rotation of each ball, each retaining seat and a relative ball contact each other at only the two portions of the retaining seat that are in the vicinity of both ends thereof.

Abstract: A plasma display panel includes a first additional dielectric layer 11A protruding from a backside of a dielectric layer 11 toward the inside of a discharge space S and extending along an edge of a discharge cell C extending in parallel to the row direction; and a second additional dielectric layer 11B formed to protrude from a portion of the backside of the dielectric layer 11 opposing a vertical wall 15a of a partition wall 15 toward the inside of the discharge space S, and to extend in the column direction to shield the adjacent discharge cells C in the row direction from each other in cooperation with the vertical wall 15a.

Abstract: A phase-synchronizing circuit includes a phase error detection circuit detecting a phase-error in a given clock signal and producing an output indicative of the phase-error as a first phase-error signal, a phase-error creating circuit creating a second phase-error signal determined so as to minimize a time for establishing a phase-synchronization for the clock signal, and a selection circuit selectively supplying the first or second phase-error signal selectively to a phase control circuit.

Abstract: An ultrathin walled rolling bearing in which the noise level is reduced and thus the sound characteristics are improved is provided. The rolling bearing is composed of an outer member having in its inner periphery a raceway surface, an inner member having in its outer periphery a raceway surface, a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the raceway surfaces of the outer and inner members, and a cage for circumferentially equi-spacing the rolling elements. In this bearing, the ratio of the diameter DB of the rolling element to the pitch circle diameter PCD of the bearing is equal to or less than 0.03. In addition, the ratio L/M falls within a range of 0.8 to 0.95 in which L is the radial thickness of the cage and M is the radius difference between the inner peripheral surface of the outer member and the outer peripheral surface of the inner member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode making good ohmic contact with an n-type nitride semiconductor without requiring heat treatment at high temperature, wherein an aluminum layer, a silicon layer, a nickel layer and a gold layer are laminated in this order on an n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor, to form an n-type electrode.