Abstract: A file level striping method adds an option for indicating whether or not to support file level striping to a file creation interface in a file system, extends an inode structure to include a last disk ID field, initializes the last disk ID when the file is created in the file system, allocates a physical block based on the last disk ID when the physical block allocation is requested at the time of file I/O request in the file system, and modifies the last disk ID value to reflect the physical block allocation made by a volume manager. An apparatus using the file level striping method includes a number of disks for storing information actually, the volume manager for logically grouping a number of disks and a file system for creating files on said logical volume and performing I/O operations.

Abstract: A device for opening a door of an electric household appliance; the door swinging about an axis of rotation between an open position, into which it is pushed by elastic means, and a closed position, in which it is retained, with the interposition of a peripheral seal, resting against a door stop of a door opening of the appliance, by releasable retaining means; and the device including a supporting member fixable integrally to the door; a button fitted integrally to the supporting member to stay, in use, on the same side of an outer surface of the door, and which is pressure-operated in opposition to first elastic means; a push member fitted to the supporting member to slide, in opposition to second elastic means and along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the door, between an extracted position extracted from a seat on the supporting member, and a withdrawn position housed inside the seat, which is formed at and substantially flush with the peripheral seal; and bolt means for sel

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first rotary disc, a plurality of folding plates arranged at regular intervals along a peripheral zone of the first rotary disc, a plurality of positive motion cams arranged at regular intervals along the peripheral zone of the first rotary disc so as to be interposed between the first rotary disc and the folding plates, a second rotary disc located on the opposite side of the first rotary disc and a plurality of auxiliary plates arranged at regular intervals along a peripheral zone of the second rotary disc. One of the folding plates and one of the auxiliary plates synchronously move into the inside of a contiguous diaper structure and simultaneously the guide arms move into a clearance between the guide blades so that the opposite side edge zones of the crotch region may be held between the guide arms and the guide blades and thereby the crotch region may be tucked into the contiguous diaper structure.

Abstract: The rotation-retarding device includes a first element and a second element having a rotary motion to be retarded relative to each other. The first element includes a block of flexible material (106), the second element (107) is able to locally deform the block of flexible material (106) throughout the rotary motion in order to retard this motion, and anti-adherence means are provided at the interface of the two elements. The block of flexible material (106) may also have a dimensional variation able to permit progressive retarding of the rotary motion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a color correction table, which provides a color conversion amount according to lightness L based on a color conversion amount for white (?Lw, ?uw, ?vw), and uses this color correction table for desired color correction. The color correction table decreases the color conversion amount to approximately zero when the lightness is less than a predetermined value Lmin. Also, the color correction by the color correction table is conducted such that a color point is moved toward a direction which maintains the lightness, or such that the color point is moved toward a direction which increases the lightness.

Abstract: A magnetic roller for image developing of a printer and having a roller body made of rubber, plastic, or artificial resin mixed with magnetic materials and formed as unity, and a plurality of S magnetic poles and N magnetic poles, which are formed in the outer circle of the roller body as a unity.

Abstract: Provided is concerned with a voltage regulation circuit and method of regulating the voltage, including a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage by dividing a core voltage of a semiconductor memory device, a controller for controlling the reference voltage generator to adjust the reference voltage without handling the core voltage in response to a test signal of a test mode, and a voltage generator for generating a bit-line precharging voltage and/or a cell plate voltage in accordance with the reference voltage.

Abstract: A disposable wearing article has first and second barrier flaps on first and second side flaps, respectively. A crotch region is formed with first and second folding guide lines diverging from the vicinity of proximal edges of the first and second barrier flaps toward side edges of the first and second side flaps, respectively. First and second sections of the crotch region are tucked inwardly along the first and second folding guide lines in a transverse direction of the article, respectively, but distal portions of the first and second barrier flaps are not tucked inwardly of the article.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser device, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first conductive-type clad layer, an active layer, and a second conductive-type clad layer on a first conductive-type semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a ridge structure by selectively etching the second conductive-type clad layer; (c) forming a current blocking layer around the ridge structure, the current blocking layer having protrusions on the upper surface thereof adjacent to the ridge structure, and an amorphous and/or polycrystalline layer on a partial area thereof; and (d) removing at least the amorphous and/or polycrystalline layer from the current blocking layer, and wet-etching the upper surface of the current blocking layer so that the protrusions are reduced in size.

Abstract: Software bundles are installed on target computers by initially creating a set of distinct image files, each corresponding to a software bundle resident in a reference storage medium of a reference computer built according to specified hardware and software configurations. The image files are copied into each of a plurality of target storage mediums. The target computers are built according to the specified hardware configuration of one of the previously created image files and include the target storage mediums. Each target computer then selects one of the image files in its target storage medium, the selected image file corresponding to the hardware configuration of the target computer and having a desired software configuration. The selected image file for each target computer is decoded to produce the software bundle stored in the target storage medium.

Abstract: In a process for attaching indicator elements onto a disposable garment, liquid-absorbent cores and indication sheets each having indicator elements are fed onto inner and outer surfaces of an outer layer web. A rear half of the front sheet of adjacent indication sheets placed upon a front end of the core and a front half of the rear sheet of the adjacent indication sheets placed upon a rear end of the core. The indication sheet is joined to the outer layer web, the core is joined to the inner and outer layer webs, and the webs are joined together. The indication sheet is cut together with the inner and outer layer webs between adjacent cores to obtain inner panels arranged in the machine direction. The inner panels are turned to the cross direction, and arranged on the inner surface of an outer web, and the outer layer web is joined to the outer web.

Abstract: A disposable diaper includes a pair of tape fasteners 6 that are used to connect front and rear waist regions 8, 10 to each other and are attached to side flaps 14 in the rear waist region 10 of the diaper. Each of the tape fasteners 6 includes fibrous nonwoven fabric made of thermoplastic synthetic resin fiber and thermoplastic synthetic resin coated on a substantially whole area of an outer surface of the fibrous nonwoven fabric wherein the thermoplastic synthetic resin forms a substantially smooth synthetic resin layer on outer surfaces of the respective tape fasteners. Thus, a free portion of each tape fastener is reliably prevented from being disengaged from a target tape even when the outer surface of the tape fastener and an inner surface of an underwear rub together during use of the diaper.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fanless high-efficiency cooling device that is applicable to electronic products having heat sources, such as plasma display panel (PDP) televisions, liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions, and liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors. The fanless high-efficiency cooling device using ion wind comprises a heat sink having a fixing part fixedly attached to a heat-generating part of an electronic product and a plurality of protrusions extending a predetermined height from a bottom surface of the fixing part, a cover that covers the upper part of the heat sink, at least one electric wire for generating ion wind between the corresponding protrusions when high voltage is applied to the electric wire, an electric wire-supporting member that supports both ends of the electric wire, and a power supply that connects a high-voltage terminal to the electric wire and connects a ground terminal to the heat sink to supply high voltage to the electric wire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber-optic gyrometer including a Sagnac interferometer using two light waves propagating in opposite directions in a interferometer loop including a photodetector which delivers an electrical signal Ud representing the light intensity of the interference between the two waves, and for optically phase-shifting the waves controlled by a square-wave modulation signal Um suitable for controlling an optical phase variation at a frequency FO substantially equal to 1/(2to), where to is the propagation time of a wave through the guide. The photodetector is connected to at least a first sampling circuit and a second sampling circuit which are controlled in phase opposition by a clock. The gyrometer includes a means for inverting the phase of the clock at a frequency f, which is very much less than the frequency FO.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nitride semiconductor device. The nitride semiconductor device comprises an n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on a nitride crystal growth substrate. An active layer is formed on the n-type nitride semiconductor layer. A first p-type nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the active layer. A micro-structured current diffusion pattern is formed on the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The current diffusion pattern is made of an insulation material. A second p-type nitride semiconductor layer is formed on the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer having the current diffusion pattern formed thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a directional coupler which is implemented with strip lines for signal coupling and inter-digital capacitors for phase compensation, and a dual-band transmitter using the same. The directional coupler includes a first transmission device, a first directional coupling device for coupling a part of a signal from the first transmission device, a first inter-digital capacitor connected between the first transmission device and the first directional coupling device, a second transmission device, a second directional coupling device for coupling a part of a signal from the second transmission device, and a second inter-digital capacitor connected between the second transmission device and the second directional coupling device.

Abstract: One object of the invention is to provide a container for cooking foods that (1) enables cooking while maintaining an appropriate moisture content, even when the container is heated by an external heating means such as a microwave oven, and (2) can be opened easily. Another object is to provide a container that is equipped with a separate seasoning means that enables the foods to be seasoned automatically, without that needing to be done manually by a user, and for the seasoning means to be removed easily. The container, which is formed of a polyolefin-based sheet, comprises a container body and a cover and is provided with a pressure-releasing part whose adhesion strength is weak enough so that it can be opened by the vapor pressure that is generated inside the container when it is heated. Also provided is a packet that contains liquid seasoning and that can be opened by the vapor pressure that is generated by heating the container, so as to make the liquid seasoning flow out.

Abstract: A diving mask includes a mask portion and a pair of side buckles respectively extending rearwards from the left and right sides of the mask portion. A structure that permits an easy adjustment in the relative positions between the mask portion and the pair of the side buckles is adopted in the diving mask. Two coupling blocks made of flexible material are respectively defined between two lateral sides of the mask portion and the pair of the side buckles. The coupling blocks permit the pair of side buckles to move upwards/downwards or leftwards/rightwards relative to the mask portion.