Abstract: A reluctance-type motor comprises, for each of its rotor and stator, a core that has a cylindrical ring and a plurality of salient poles protruding from the ring in a radial direction of the ring. Each pole has a bottom width and a top width in a circumferential direction of the core at its bottom and at its top, respectively. The bottom width is sized to be larger than the top width, and the ring has a width sized to be larger than a half of the top width of the pole. The pole may be shaped to have a round corner at the bottom or in a trapezoid in which the bottom width is larger than the top width. The core may have a plurality of thin magnetic plates stacked in an axial direction of the core, each plate has a plurality slits in each protrusion which forms the pole, and each plate has a thickness which is less than 5 times of a maximum width of each slit.

Abstract: Pch-MOS transistors to which a power supply potential is applied are respectively surrounded by first trenches, and Nch-MOS transistors to which a ground potential is applied are respectively surrounded by second trenches. The first trenches are surrounded by a third trench, and the second trenches are surrounded by a fourth trench. A silicon layer existing inside the third trench is set at the power source potential. The silicon layer existing between the third and fourth trenches are set at a floating state. Accordingly, each thickness of oxide layers filling the trenches can be reduced.

Abstract: In attaining a target vehicle braking force corresponding to a pedal depression force, an assigned braking force is obtained by subtracting a minimum braking force of a hydraulic braking device corresponding to the pedal depression force from the target vehicle braking force. Then, a distributive braking force of the hydraulic braking device is obtained by subtracting an actual regenerative braking force from the assigned braking force. And, a boost ratio of the hydraulic braking device is controlled based on a target hydraulic braking force which is a sum of the minimum braking force and the distributive braking force. Thus, the braking force of the hydraulic braking device is always utilized for attaining the target vehicle braking force.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor in which a semiconductor sensor element is contained in a package which is made by assembling a first case and a second case, and which have simple structure with low cost. The semiconductor pressure sensor is generally made up of a sensor element made of semiconductor; a sensor case made of resin; plural leads insert-formed into the sensor case so as to be partly exposed from the sensor case, wherein the leads is electrically connected to the sensor element; and a connector case assembled with the sensor case for covering the sensor element. The connector case has a flange portion which is provided with a cover portion, and a surround portion protruding from the cover portion for surrounding an exposed portion of the leads. The surround portion and the exposed portion form a connecting portion which can be connected with an external terminal. Hence, connecting function of the sensor can be realized with simple structure without additional connecting members.

Abstract: A semiconductor physical quantity sensor has a beam connecting a movable portion and a support substrate for displacing the movable portion in a displacement direction. The beam has a rectangular frame shape with a hollow portion and is surrounded by a groove. The groove has opposing intervals at both sides of the beam in the displacement direction, and the opposing intervals are equal to an interval of the hollow portion in the displacement direction. Accordingly, etching rates at the groove and the hollow portion become approximately equal to each other, reducing processing variation of the beam.

Abstract: An obstacle detecting system for vehicles has an ultrasonic vibrator having a vibration plate and mounted on a vehicle to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave. An obstacle is detected in response to an output signal of the ultrasonic vibrator. When the temperature around the ultrasonic vibrator is below a predetermined temperature corresponding to snowfall, the system calculates a ratio of a period of reverberating vibration of the ultrasonic vibrator relative to a predetermined time period following an ultrasonic wave transmission, and determines accumulation of snow when the calculated ratio exceeds a predetermined time ratio. The system notifies an abnormality of the ultrasonic vibrator arising from the accumulation of snow.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a case, a printed circuit board, a fin, and a ceramic substrate mounting a semiconductor element thereon. The case contains the printed circuit board, the ceramic substrate and the fin. The fin and the case radiate heat transmitted from the ceramic substrate. The fin has protrusions on a contact face facing a contact face of the case. The fin contacts the case though the protrusions when the fin is fixed to the case. The protrusions serve as heat radiating path.

Abstract: An operational amplifier is provided which includes a first and a second output transistor which are selectively activated as a function of a potential difference between input signals to an inverting input and a non-inverting input of the operational amplifier to establish a connection between an output terminal of the operational amplifier and a positive voltage side of a dc power supply or a connection between the output terminal and a negative voltage side of the dc power supply, thereby outputting a signal from the output terminal as a function of the potential difference between the input signals in a wider voltage range.

Abstract: A protective sheet is fixed to a jig, and regions of the protective sheet corresponding to regions where dicing-cut is to be performed are removed to form grooves. Then, a semiconductor wafer is bonded to the protective sheet at an opposite side of the jig, and the jig is detached from the protective sheet and the semiconductor wafer bonded together. After that, the semiconductor wafer is cut into semiconductor chips by dicing along the grooves of the protective sheet. Because the protective sheet is not cut by dicing, no scraps of the protective sheet is produced, thereby preventing contamination to the chips.

Abstract: A reference voltage generating circuit is constituted by resistors RE and RF each having a resistance not influenced by an application of pressure. The reference voltage generating circuit is connected between one and the other ends of a bridge circuit. A failure judgement of the bridge circuit is performed based on a comparison of a voltage difference VBC between two midpoints B and C of the bridge circuit and voltage differences VCE and VBE between a reference voltage level of the reference voltage generating circuit and the voltage levels of two midpoints B and C.

Abstract: One or more capacitors are formed using thermally oxidized films formed on a silicon layer of an SOI substrate. The capacitors may be formed alone or together with other semiconductor elements on a single SOI substrate. A diffuse layer having an impurity in a high density is first formed on the silicon layer, and then an oxidized film is formed on the diffused layer by thermal oxidation. Then, contaminants in the oxidized film are driven-out under a high temperature heat treatment, thereby to improve quality of the oxidized film, such as durability against a high voltage. Plural capacitors may be formed using oxidized films having a respectively different thickness, by repeating thermal oxidation and removal of the oxidized film.

Abstract: A press for forming a workpiece with a tooling set includes an actuator assembly carrying a movable half or punch of the tooling set and having a two phase operation. In the first phase the actuator provides relatively low force in moving the punch to an intermediate position in close proximity to the workpiece. A sensor detects the position of the punch, and when the punch reaches the intermediate position provides a continue signal. The second phase of actuator operation is conditioned on occurrence of the continue signal, and uses normal high force to press the movable tooling half against the workpiece to complete the operation. The low force first phase allows obstructions of any kind to stop movement of the punch during the first phase before high force applied to the actuator may cause damage or injury to the obstruction. In a preferred embodiment the actuator assembly has hydraulic operation.

Abstract: A fixed station and an on-board apparatus are constructed to carry out a short range communication. The on-board apparatus specifies an application from a command included in reception data received from the fixed station and starts a corresponding processing, when an acquired command is a menu selection command. A menu including commodities and charges are displayed. When a selected item is determined, the determined content is displayed. When an IC card unit receives an IC card for settling the charge, the charge is settled by rewriting the IC card by data exchange via wireless communication. A short range wireless unit is used to ensure individuality of the communication. This short range communication may also be used at a vehicle repair shop, at a curved corner on a travel path or the like.

Abstract: A load drive circuit for an electric load comprises a plurality of switching circuits connected in parallel with each other, a first wiring conductor pattern connecting one sides of the switching circuits to an external power side through a first connecting portion, and a second wiring conductor pattern connecting another sides of the switching circuits to a load side through a second connecting portion. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are disposed in the vicinity of one end and the other end of a parallel arrangement of the switching circuits, respectively. Current paths from the first connecting portion to the second connecting portion through the switching circuits, respectively, have substantially same resistances.

Abstract: In a power window device, a DOWN switch has first and second switches in a power window circuit located in a door for a window of a passenger's seat. A normally-closed contact of the first switch and a remote UP terminal of the power window circuit to which an UP signal is applied from a power window circuit provided near the driver's seat are connected. A normally-closed contact of the second switch and a remote DOWN terminal of the power window circuit to which a DOWN signal is applied from the power window circuit are connected. When the DOWN switch is manually operated, a signal supply line to which the UP signal and the DOWN signal are applied and a power supply line to which a power source is connected are electrically disconnected. As a result, the power window device is operable even when the signal supply line is grounded due to submerging in water.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor has a weight portion that can be drive-oscillated in a driving direction and be oscillated in a detecting direction when an angular velocity is applied, and unnecessary oscillation suppressing electrodes that can generate an electrostatic force to be applied to the weight portion in the detecting direction. The electrostatic force prevents the weight portion from being drive-oscillated in a direction other than the driving direction. As a result, unnecessary oscillation of the weight portion can be prevented even when the angular velocity sensor has a processing error.

Abstract: In a vehicle navigation system, an initial recommended travel path between a departure point and a destination is determined using the Dijikstra method. If an external memory stores path information regarding a short-cut path that has its start point and end point on the recommended travel path, a corresponding part of the recommended travel path is replaced with the short-cut path to guide the vehicle along the modified recommended travel path. If the vehicle travels deviating from the recommended travel path, path information that specify the leaving path are collected and stored as a new short-cut path in the external memory. If the same travel path is searched for next time, the short-cut path thus stored is used to modify the recommended travel path.

Abstract: An electrical noise suppressing device has a pair of parallel first connecting terminals connectable to terminals of a motor and a pair of parallel second connecting terminals connectable to an external power source. The first connecting terminals and the second connecting terminals are raised on opposite surfaces of an insulating plate, respectively, at the same position of the insulating plate. A pair of choke coils and a capacitor are disposed between and connected to the second connecting terminals to suppress electrical noise.

Abstract: A load drive apparatus for an electric load has a plurality of switching circuits having respective power MOS transistors and connected in parallel with each other to drive an electric load. The switching circuits have INH input/output terminals for driving ON/OFF of the power MOS transistors. When a high voltage detecting unit detects that a power-source voltage is high, the high voltage detecting unit outputs a high level to turn off the power MOS transistors. The MOS transistor of one switching circuits turns on and the voltage of the INH input/output terminal of the same switching circuit becomes low. Thereby, the INH input/output terminal of another switching circuits becomes low to turn off simultaneously the power MOS transistor of another switching circuit.

Abstract: A pressure detection apparatus capable of preventing an O-ring, which is sandwiched by a first case and a second case, from being squeezed to a gap between the first case and the second case. A pressure detection apparatus is formed by assembling a connector case as the first case, which includes a depression portion in which a sensor element is contained, and a housing as the second case. The housing includes a main body portion having a pressure introduce hole. A seal diaphragm and a press member are welded to the main body portion. A pressure detection chamber for containing oil is defined between the depression portion of the connector case and the seal diaphragm. At an outer peripheral portion of the pressure detection chamber, an O-ring is inserted to a groove formed at one end surface of the connector case. An outer peripheral portion of groove portion is defined as an outer peripheral wall. A corner portion is defined by a side surface and a contact surface of the outer peripheral wall.