Abstract: An InGaN active layer is formed on a sapphire substrate. A p-side electrode is formed on the InGaN active layer to supply an electric current to this InGaN active layer. The p-side electrode includes {circle around (1)} an Ni layer for forming an ohmic contact with a p-GaN layer, {circle around (2)} an Mo layer having a barrier function of preventing diffusion of impurities, {circle around (3)} an Al layer as a high-reflection electrode, {circle around (4)} a Ti layer having a barrier function, and {circle around (5)} an Au layer for improving the contact with a submount on a lead frame. The p-side electrode having this five-layered structure realizes an ohmic contact and high reflectance at the same time.

Abstract: A scanning electron microscope equipped with a laser defect detection function has an automatic focusing function that performs the steps of: obtaining a deviation (offset) amount between focal positions of an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope; detecting a defect by a laser dark-field image of the optical microscope; analyzing the dark-field image to readjust a focus of the optical microscope to adjust a height of the optical microscope; and automatically adjusting a focus of the scanning electron microscope by adding a readjusted amount of the focus of the optical microscope to the offset amount before an observation is conducted by the scanning electron microscope.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a GPS system that can operate in different modes depending on the network facilities and bandwidth available, the GPS information that can be acquired, or user or system requirements. The modes comprise standalone mode, where a mobile communications device computes the position of the device, an autonomous mode, where the mobile communications device transmits the computed position to a server, application, or PSAP in a communications network, a network aided mode, where the network aides the mobile communications device in deter mg the position of the device, a network based mode, and other modes.

Abstract: An optical disc reproducing apparatus includes a semiconductor laser, an objective lens converging a laser beam from the semiconductor laser on a recording surface of an optical disc, a polarization plane rotating unit selectively rotating the plane of polarization of the laser beam according to the thickness of a substrate of the optical disc, and a polarizing filter selectively shading a peripheral portion of the laser beam having the rotated plane of polarization. In one embodiment, a numerical aperture changing unit includes a non-patterned twisted nematic liquid crystal, and the polarizing filter includes a polarizing film having a polarization characteristics at its peripheral portion.