Abstract: A dielectric element capable of attaining excellent element characteristics by suppressing an oxide dielectric film from deterioration of characteristics caused by hydrogen is obtained. This dielectric element comprises a lower electrode including a first conductor film containing a metal, silicon and nitrogen, a first insulator film including the oxide dielectric film and an upper electrode including a second conductor film containing the metal, silicon and nitrogen, while the metal includes at least one metal selected from a group consisting of Ir, Pt, Ru, Re, Ni, Co and Mo. According to this structure, the first conductor film and the second conductor film function as barrier films preventing diffusion of hydrogen. Consequently, the first conductor film and the second conductor film suppress hydrogen from diffusing into the oxide dielectric film. Thus, the oxide dielectric film is prevented from deterioration of characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production and use of custom tailored, bacterial enzyme mixtures or components thereof for degrading biofilms in both industrial and therapeutic applications. The industrial applications include but are not limited to the use biofilm-degrading, multiple specificity, hydrolytic enzyme mixtures for removing or preventing the formation of biofilms in water cooling towers, industrial process piping, heat exchangers, in food processing or food preparation, in potable water systems, reservoirs, swimming pools, or related sanitary water systems, and on membranes such as those used for desalinization, industrial processes, or related applications.

Abstract: A MR element with a magnetic sensing region and outside regions thereof which locate outside the magnetic sensing region along a track width direction, includes a multi-layered structure with an anti-ferromagnetic thin-film layer, a first ferromagnetic thin-film layer constituted by a single layer of ferromagnetic material or by multi layers of ferromagnetic material, a non-magnetic metal thin-film layer and a second ferromagnetic thin-film layer constituted by a single layer of ferromagnetic material or by multi layers of ferromagnetic material which are sequentially formed on a substrate. The all layers in the multi-layered structure exist in the magnetic sensing region, and at least the anti-ferromagnetic thin-film layer with its initial thickness exists in the outside regions.

Abstract: A receiver for bidirectional signal transmission, where signals are sent and received in both directions over a signal transmission line, has a signal line, a first hold capacitor, a signal line voltage buffer circuit, a hybrid circuit, and a decision circuit. The signal line is connected to the signal transmission line, the first hold capacitor is used to hold a signal, and the signal line voltage buffer circuit is used to buffer a voltage of the signal line. Further, the hybrid circuit is used to output a received signal by separating the received signal from the signal line voltage buffered by the buffer circuit, and the decision circuit is used to make a decision on the logic value of the received signal separated and output by the hybrid circuit.

Abstract: A memory control system has a replacement detection/notification circuit for detecting occurrence of replacement of dirty entry in a cache and informing a memory controller of the detection, and a state control circuit for precharging the currently active page in a main memory when the memory controller is informed of the detection and a preceding access to the main memory attendant upon the replacement of dirty entry is completed. By precharging the active page in the main memory to return to the idle state when the preceding access attendant upon the replacement of dirty entry is completed, the succeeding access can be done only by activating the aimed page probably different from the above page. It is thereby obviated to return the activated page due to the preceding access to the idle state after a page miss occurs in the succeeding access.

Abstract: An information playback apparatus is provided to obtain sound effects by using an optical disc in much the same way an analog record is manipulated. A pressing pressure applied onto a rotatable jog dial is detected by providing a pressure sensing layer to the jog dial. When no pressing pressure is applied onto the jog dial, audio information is played back from an optical disc at a normal tempo. When an end of the jog dial at rest is pressed with a pressing pressure within a predetermined range, a tempo of a playback sound played from the audio information is changed in response to the pressing pressure. When an end of the jog dial at rest is pressed with a large pressing pressure, a tempo of a playback sound played from the audio information is changed in such a manner that playback of a playback sound is stopped eventually.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus capable of presenting a stereoscopic image of a desired planer image includes an input operating unit for designating an image of a desired portion of the planer image, and a stereoscopic display control unit for displaying, on a stereoscopic display screen, stereo-pair images corresponding to the image of the designated portion by the input operating unit. The stereo-pair images are prepared in advance corresponding to the image of the designated portion. Alternatively, the stereo-pair images may be automatically generated for the partial image.

Abstract: Subject matter of the invention is a reagent preparation for binding components of a sample in the form of a tablet comprising a multitude of magnetic particles which are held together with the aid of excipients, and the use of this reagent preparation in analytical test.

Abstract: A private key write control unit (48) permits writing of a private key just once into a private key storage unit (36) after initialization. Similarly, a particular data write control unit (42) permits writing of particular data only once into a data storage unit (34) after initialization. Since a person other than the IC card manufacturer can write in a private key or particular data after the fabrication stage of the IC card, flexibility in the application of IC cards can be ensured. Also, improper usage of a card can be prevented since the written data is inhibited of being rewritten. The IC card manufacturer can initialize the data storage unit (34) and the private key storage unit (36) by a data initialization unit (44) and a private key initialization unit (46). Therefore, the cost of an IC card can be reduced by allowing reusage of IC cards.

Abstract: A vehicle door handle system includes a pair of electrodes disposed within an operating handle located on the outer surface side of a door along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A detection circuit for detecting a change in capacitance between the two electrodes is connected to the two electrodes.

Abstract: A tubeless tire (1) comprising: Twin bead portions (5), each of which lets a wheel engage it; An outer layer portion (2) having a tread portion (6) to be grounding; An inner liner layer (3) included rubber, which is entirely stuck inside of the outer layer portion (2), wherein There is provided the most inner layer (4) inside of the inner liner layer (3), which not only maintains airtight of the tubeless tire, but includes an adhesion part (4a), in which it is stuck to the inner liner layer (3), and non-adhesion part (4b), in which it is not stuck on the inner liner layer (3) and it (4b) can be transformed independently for the outer layer portion (2) and the inner liner layer (3).

Abstract: A speaker diaphragm is formed from a material combining a fiber-type material and a ceramic-type-coating agent including metal alkoxide, metal hydroxide, and a colloidal or fine-particulate inorganic substance. The combining process for the ceramic-type-coating agent is performed before or after the fiber-type material is formed into a shape of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A wheel bearing device having a unitized hub ring, double-row bearing and constant velocity universal joint with one of double-row inner raceways formed on the joint outer ring. An end portion of the joint outer ring is fitted to an outside periphery of the hub ring through serrated portions. The hub ring is plastically deformed and expanded from an inside diameter side toward an outside diameter side by pushing a steel ball into a through hole of the hub ring preventing play in the serrated portions by the diameter expansion. A surface-hardened layer is formed at least on a base portion of the wheel mounting flange.

Abstract: A brush seal device is mounted to one of two parts that move relative to each other with a gap therebetween, and seals the gap between the parts. Even when a brush seal abuts on the other part, it is deformed accordingly. As a result, wear of the brush seal is prevented. The brush seal device includes: a brush seal formed from bristles arranged into a wall shape, and including an attachment portion formed by connecting the bristles together at one end, and a free end face facing an opposing surface of the other part; a back plate connected to the attachment portion of the brush seal, and including a support surface for supporting a side surface of the brush seal; and a retaining plate for retaining the attachment portion of the brush seal between the retaining plate and the back plate. The support surface of the back plate and an opposing surface of the brush seal are disposed at a distance from each other. The bristle of the brush seal has a diameter of 0.15 mm to 0.008 mm.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of, when data is written into a memory cell, fixing adjacent complimentary bit lines to a predetermined voltage, thereby reducing an effect of a write noise for a readout operation of the adjacent cells, making it possible to ensure stable operation. An address signal is inputted to a bit line short signal circuit and a column switch signal circuit, and the corresponding bit line short signal BRS0 or BRS1 and column switch signal CL01 or CL11 are selected. Complimentary bit lines /BL1, /BL2 or bit lines BL1 and BL2 in which a memory cell is not connected according to the bit line short signals BRS0 and BRS1 are selected altogether, these bit lines are fixed to a precharge voltage VPR, and a write noise is shielded. The column switch signal CL01 or CL11 makes conductive the corresponding column switches, and the selected bit line BL1, BL2, /BL1, or /BL2 is connected to a data bus DB or /DB.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically commutated motor (1) comprising P phases and N pairs of poles, in which a circular multipole encoder (12) is associated with the rotating ring (6a) of an anti-friction bearing (6), said encoder (12) comprising a main multipole track (12a) and a multipole commutation track (12b) comprising 2*P*N singularities (12b1-12b6) equidistributed angularly and a control device comprising a fixed sensor (15) capable of delivering square digital signals A, B in quadrature and a digital signal C in the form of 2*P*N pulses per revolution of the encoder (12), a circuit for commutating (20) the currents in the phase windings of the motor (1) and a control circuit (21) for the commutation circuit (20).

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device has a dummy bit line, a reference voltage generating circuit, a comparator circuit, and a timing signal generating circuit. The dummy bit line has a load equal to a load of a bit line, and the reference voltage generating circuit generates a reference voltage. The comparator circuit compares a potential of the dummy bit line with the reference voltage, and the timing signal generating circuit generates various kinds of timing signals based on an output of the comparator circuit. The semiconductor memory device simultaneously selects a plurality of dummy memory cells and connects the selected dummy memory cells to the dummy bit line, and adjusts the potential of the dummy bit line.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine-starting system for cranking and starting an engine for a vehicle having automatically stopping and starting functions by a hydraulic motor. A hydraulic pressure that operates a hydraulic clutch of a transmission is raised promptly by using a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor is driven by a hydraulic pressure supplied thereto through a first oil passage from a hydraulic motor-driving device including an oil pump, an accumulator and a solenoid valve, thereby starting the engine. A transmission is disposed in the middle of a second oil passage for returning an oil discharged from the hydraulic motor to the hydraulic motor-driving device. Thus, the hydraulic pressure in the transmission can be raised simultaneously with the start of the engine to enable the engagement of a hydraulic clutch, thereby starting the vehicle promptly, while avoiding generating a shock from the engagement of the hydraulic clutch.