Abstract: Ceramic susceptor whose wafer-retaining face has superior isothermal properties, and that is suited to utilization in apparatuses for manufacturing semiconductors and in liquid-crystal manufacturing apparatuses. In plate-shaped sintered ceramic body 1, resistive heating element 2 is formed. Fluctuation in pullback length L between sintered ceramic body outer-peripheral edge 1a and resistive heating element substantive-domain outer-peripheral edge 2a is within ±0.8%, while isothermal rating of the entire surface of the wafer-retaining face is ±1.0% or less. Preferable is a superior isothermal rating of ±0.5% or less that can be achieved by bringing the fluctuation in pullback length L to within ±0.5%.

Abstract: In a spindle motor utilizing dynamic-pressure bearings having a full-fill structure, a bearing configuration that balances and sustains at or above atmospheric pressure the internal pressure of the bearing oil. Thrust and radial bearing sections are configured within oil-filled bearing clearances in between the rotor, the shaft, and a shaft-encompassing hollow bearing member. A communicating passage one end of which opens on, radially inwardly along, the thrust bearing section is formed in the bearing member. Either axial ends of the bearing clearance in between the bearing member and shaft communicate through the passage. The communicating passage enables the oil to redistribute itself within the bearing clearances. Pressure difference between the axial upper and lower ends of the oil retained in between the bearing member and the shaft is compensated through the communicating passage, preventing incidents of negative pressure within the oil and of over-lift on the rotor.

Abstract: Manufacturing narrow-diameter hollow metal objects utilizing metals difficult to work plastically has been problematic with conventional manufacturing methods; the narrower the diameter the higher the manufacturing cost has been, and under some circumstances manufacturing has been impossible. A plurality of metal wires is worked into a twisted wire cluster, adjoining companion metal wires are brought into contact in planar contacting portions, and the cluster is made unitary by supplying an adhesive agent along the outer side, producing a hollow metal object possessing a uniform inner diameter and a clean inner surface.

Abstract: Low-profile spindle motor whose entire shaft length is utilized to configure, along an encompassing sleeve, a radial dynamic-pressure bearing section. One end of the shaft is unitary with the rotor, and a cover member closes the other end. Between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface a thrust bearing section is configured. Micro-gaps are formed continuing between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface; the sleeve inner-circumferential surface and the shaft outer-circumferential surface; and the cover member inner face and the shaft end face, where an axial support section is established. Oil continuously fills the micro-gaps, configuring a full-fill hydrodynamic bearing structure. Hydrodynamic pressure-generating grooves in the radial bearing section are configured either so that no axial flow, or so that a unidirectional flow that recirculates from one to the other axial end of the radial bearing section through a communicating pathway is induced in the oil.

Abstract: Spindle-motor hydrodynamic bearing configuration having conical taper seals on the thrust-bearing ends. The spindle motor shaft is supported in a bore through the rotor by neighboring radial and thrust hydrodynamic bearings constituted through radial micro-gaps cylindrically between the shaft and rotor, axial micro-gaps between thrust plates on either shaft end and recesses endwise in the rotor bore, dynamic-pressure-generating grooves in the micro-gap forming surfaces, and lubricant retained continuously in the radial and axial micro-gaps. The thrust plates are at least partially conical, tapering axially outward. A ring fitted in each rotor bore recess has a conical inner peripheral surface corresponding to the opposing conical surface of the thrust plate, forming a taper seal sloped with respect to the rotational axial center of the motor. The gap clearance dimension gradually expands heading axially outward, wherein the lubricant forms an axial-end gas-liquid interface to function as a taper seal.

Abstract: Optical-disk stamper that prevents mold-release defects caused by mold-release irregularities that occur when the mold is opened while improving transferability during disk molding to enable the manufacture of high-quality optical disks at a favorable yield rate. On one side of a stamper body (1), a molding surface (2) furnished when bumps (3) for imprinting pits into an optical disk is formed. The molding surface, including the bumps, is formed of a polymer resin whose thermal diffusivity is 0.01 m2/h or under. More preferably the molding surface is formed of a poorly heat-conducting phenolic resin whose thermal diffusivity is between 0.0004 and 0.001 m2/h, suppressing heat diffusion from the molten resin toward the stamper during the disk molding process and nullifying rapid cooling and local hardening of the resin.

Abstract: Low-profile spindle motor whose entire shaft length is utilized to configure, along an encompassing sleeve, a radial dynamic-pressure bearing section. One end of the shaft is unitary with the rotor, and a cover member closes the other end. Between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface a thrust bearing section is configured. Micro-gaps are formed continuing between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface; the sleeve inner-circumferential surface and the shaft outer-circumferential surface; and the cover member inner face and the shaft end face, where an axial support section is established. Oil continuously fills the micro-gaps without interruption, configuring a fully filled hydrodynamic bearing structure. Hydrodynamic pressure-generating grooves in the radial bearing section are configured so that no axial flow is induced in the oil, and in the thrust bearing so that lift pressure, balanced by hydrostatic pressure in the axial support section, is imparted in the oil.

Abstract: New material useful in miniature, low-cost Faraday rotators, polarizers (analyzers) and magnetic substances; in Faraday rotators and optical isolators that can handle a plurality of wavelengths; and in miniaturizing, and reducing the cost and enhancing the performance of, optical isolators and various optical devices. Optical isolator (60b) as one example is configured by rectilinearly arranging a wavelength-selective Faraday rotator (30), a polarizer (20) and an analyzers (40) formed from a DLC thin film, and a magnetic substance (50) that is transparent to light. Integrally forming these using thin-film lamination technology simplifies the fabrication procedure to enable manufacturing miniature, low-cost optical isolators.

Abstract: Ceramic susceptor whose wafer-retaining face has superior isothermal properties, and that is suited to utilization in apparatuses for manufacturing semiconductors and in liquid-crystal manufacturing apparatuses. In plate-shaped sintered ceramic body 1, resistive heating element 2 is formed. Fluctuation in pullback length L between sintered ceramic body outer-peripheral edge 1a and resistive heating element substantive-domain outer-peripheral edge 2a is within ±0.8%, while isothermal rating of the entire surface of the wafer-retaining face is ±1.0% or less. Preferable is a superior isothermal rating of ±0.5% or less that can be achieved by bringing the fluctuation in pullback length L to within ±0.5%.

Abstract: Further improvements in circuit-element performance of surface-acoustic wave devices are anticipated by being able to produce a diamond substrate on which is formed a Li(NbxTa1−x)O3 (wherein 0≦x≦1) thin film whose c-axis orientation is favorable and whose piezoelectric characteristics are satisfactory. A diamond substrate on which a highly c-axis oriented, piezoelectrically satisfactory Li(NbxTa1−x)O3 (wherein 0≦x≦1) thin film is formed can be obtained by using a laser ablation technique to form a Li(NbxTa1−x)O3 (wherein 0≦x≦1) thin film onto a (110)-oriented gas-phase synthesized polycrystalline diamond substrate, that is superficially mirror-surface processed. By utilizing a diamond substrate on which a piezoelectric-substance thin film is formed, surface-acoustic wave devices having high propagation speeds can be offered.

Abstract: Oil-retaining configuration in partially filled or fully filled dynamic-pressure bearing system for miniaturized, low-profile spindle motor. A radial bearing section and a magnetically balanced thrust bearing section compose the bearing system. An oil taper seal is configured in between the rotor and the sleeve, radially beyond the radial bearing section, and not axially beyond the thrust bearing section. The taper-seal gap slopes radially inward, flaring with further separation from the rotor undersurface, in a configuration that lengthens the tapered space functioning as, and enlarges the capacity within, the taper-seal area, and that sets up the oil boundary surface oriented sloping radially inward. Centrifugal force during rotation thus acts pressing in on the oil boundary surface, fortifying the sealing strength. The oil-retaining configuration allows for span, between twin constituents provided as the radial bearing section, sufficient for increased conical stiffness even in a reduced-profile structure.

Abstract: Spindle motor utilizing a dynamic-pressure bearing device having a full-fill structure and capable of discharging air bubbles from the lubricating oil after it is charged into the bearing device, as well as air bubbles appearing in the oil due to cavitation in handling. Thrust and radial bearing sections are configured within bearing clearances in between the rotor, the shaft, and a shaft-encompassing hollow bearing member. A communicating passage enabling the oil to redistribute itself within the bearing clearances is formed in the bearing member. At least one ray-like groove that reaches from the radially inward edge of dynamic-pressure-generating grooves in the thrust bearing section to the rim of the shaft-encompassing hollow is furnished in the bearing member. When the motor rotates the air bubbles are stirred and minced by the ray-like groove, and migrate toward release at the single oil-air interface.

Abstract: Backgate-characteristics determination method and device that make for curtailing the fabrication of semiconductor circuit elements having defective backgate-characteristics. Initially a first C-V curve 30 representing the relation between a voltage applied to the obverse face of a wafer 20 serving as a substrate for semiconductor circuit elements, and its capacitance, is found. Next, a second C-V curve 32 is found through applying a voltage to the reverse face of the wafer 20. The backgate characteristics for the semiconductor circuit elements are determined based on a voltage-shift amount 34 for the wafer 20, found from the first C-V curve 30 and the second C-V curve 32.

Abstract: Educational play apparatus and system that enables preschool and primary education to be conducted while play is taking place, and that is equipped, by a plurality of gas globes (30) being housed within a play space (S) screened-off with a screen-off member (15), so that players (Y) may have fun capturing the gas globes (30) within the play space (S), wherein educational information is displayed on the surface of the gas globes (30). The players (Y) come into contact spontaneously with the educational information in the midst of playing games, reinforcing information given them up to that point through care workers, as well as imparting information to them while playing together with care workers, which serves naturally to improve knowledge acquirement and scholastic ability.

Abstract: Spindle motor that has high rotational precision and is manufacturable at low cost, and that can be applied even in miniature, low-profile recording-disk drives. The spindle motor includes a shaft having a cone portion, a conic-shaped cavity into which the cone portion is inserted, and only a single dynamic-pressure bearing, formed on the lateral face of the cone portion. The working fluid is oil, and the oil fills without interruption a clearance between the shaft's cone portion and the conical cavity.

Abstract: Air guides provided in a dynamic-pressure-bearing motor on a rotor-surrounding wall of the motor casing. The air guides project radially from the casing wall and have an axially extending guide surface that concentrates air, made to flow by rotation of the rotor, radially inward toward a predetermined position along the rotor with respect to its cylindrical surface, to apply radially directed pressure against the rotor. If the motor is for a disk drive, the rotor may carry a number of storage disks and the air guides may be disposed proximate at least one of the axial upper/lower surfaces among those of all or a portion of the storage disks. The pressure developed by the air guides maintains the spinning rotor in an eccentric state, which works to resist the wobbling due to half-speed whirling and improve the motor's rotational precision.

Abstract: In a thrust dynamic-pressure bearing that through pump-in type spiral grooves generates dynamic pressure, a simple configuration to eliminate at the bearing exterior air bubbles liable to build up nearby the central portion of the bearing, yielding stabilized axial bearing force. The configuration lends superior endurance and reliability to the thrust bearing, and to a spindle motor furnished with the bearing. The configuration makes the circularly symmetrical dynamic pressure distribution, created by spiral grooves formed circularly symmetrical with respect to the bearing axial center, asymmetrical by the addition of an asymmetrical auxiliary groove(s). Air bubbles building up near the center of the spiral grooves are thus shifted to the area where the spiral grooves are formed. In the area where the spiral grooves are formed, the more inward the oil the higher the dynamic pressure.

Abstract: Reduced axial height, compact disk-drive motor rotating on a hydrodynamic radial bearing and a magnetically counterbalanced single hydrodynamic thrust bearing. The single hydrodynamic thrust bearing is configured between the underside of the rotor hub and the adjacent end face of a support cylinder in which the motor shaft rotates. To make the motor rotationally operable, instead of another hydrodynamic thrust bearing, the reduced axial-height configuration employs magnetic counterbalancing means associated with the cylindrical wall of the rotor hub. The magnetic counterbalancing means counterbalances thrust hydrodynamic lifting pressure generated in the single thrust-hydrodynamic pressure bearing and acting on the rotor hub when it spins.

Abstract: Disk-drive motor having two hydrodynamnic bearing sections separated with respect to the shaft by an air intervention, each composed of a radial and a thrust dynamic-pressure bearing portion, and in each of which lubricant is retained continuously throughout the radial and thrust bearing portions At least one communicating pathway is formed in the sleeve, axially communicating the thrust faces that are constituents of, and retaining lubricant continuously with, the pair of thrust bearing portions. Via the communicating pathway, the lubricant retained in the two hydrodynamic bearing sections shifts mutually from the one section to the other, such that the radii of curvature of the meniscuses forming the respective boundaries arc equalized. The amount of lubricant held in the bearing sections is accordingly equalized and lubricant leaking out of the radial bearing portions is taken up and re-circulated.

Abstract: Spindle motor hydrodynamic pressure bearing device having upper and lower radial bearing portions axially separated by an air space, established in the micro-gap between the outer circumferential surface of the motor shaft and the inner circumferential surface of the motor sleeve element, and upper and lower thrust bearing portions established on either side of a thrust plate flange at the lower end of the shaft. A micro-gap established between the thrust plate and an opposing base surface of a recess in the sleeve element accommodating the thrust plate is continuous with the lower radial bearing micro-gap. Lubricating oil in the micro-gaps is therein retained continuously between the lower radial bearing and the upper thrust bearing. The lower radial bearing generates hydrodynamic pressure acting axially outward (toward the upper thrust bearing), and the upper thrust bearing generates hydrodynamic pressure acting radially inward (toward the lower radial bearing).