Abstract: Disclosed is a rack bar supporting device of a steering apparatus for a vehicle which can prevent rattle noise generated due to clearance increase caused by the wearing of a rack bar and a support yoke in an endurance driving of a vehicle and maintain a uniform clearance between the rack bar and the support yoke after an endurance driving, thereby transferring stable steering force.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, first, a first metal interconnect is formed in an interconnect formation region, and a second metal interconnect is formed in a seal ring region. Subsequently, by chemical mechanical polishing or etching, the upper portions of the first metal interconnect and the second metal interconnect are recessed to form recesses. A second insulating film filling the recesses is then formed above a substrate, and the upper portion of the second insulating film is planarized. Next, a hole and a trench are formed to extend halfway through the second insulating film, and ashing and polymer removal are performed. Subsequently to this, the hole and the trench are allowed to reach the first metal interconnect and the second metal interconnect.

Abstract: In fuse program circuits, fuse element FS is implemented using metal interconnect at third or higher layer of multilayer metal interconnect. In each fuse program circuit, program information and fuse select information are sequentially transferred using a scan flip-flops, and fuses are selectively and electrically blown one by one. The fuse program circuit provided with fuse elements that can be programmed even after packaging is implemented with low power consumption and a low occupation area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a resist pattern for obtaining an electronic device in which a development defect is eliminated, and aims at providing a process that is simple and low-cost, and can impart a high hydrophobicity capable of high-speed scan. It relates to a method of forming a resist pattern including the steps of: providing immersion exposure to a resist film; solubilizing the resist film subjected to the immersion exposure in an alkaline developer; developing the resist film solubilized in the alkaline developer by alkali immersion; and performing a deionized water rinse treatment on the developed resist film in this order, wherein the step of solubilization in the alkaline developer is performed by exposing the resist film subjected to the immersion exposure to ozone gas without irradiating ultraviolet rays (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as ozone treatment).

Abstract: A semiconductor chip comprising a capacitor capable of effectively controlling the voltage drop of an LSI is provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided with an element electrode having at least its surface constituted of an aluminum electrode. The surface of the aluminum electrode is roughened. An oxide film is provided on the aluminum electrode. A conductive film is provided on the oxide film. The aluminum electrode, oxide film and conductive film form a capacitor.

Abstract: A first equalizer generates a vibration-component signal indicating the amount of movement of an image pickup apparatus according to an output signal of a vibration detecting element for detecting the vibration of the image pickup apparatus. The second equalizer generates a drive signal used to control a driver element to correct the position of a lens or image pickup devices, based on the output signal of a position detecting element for detecting the position of the lens to be driven or the image pickup devices to be driven and the vibration-component signal. A control unit verifies the operations of the driver element, the position detecting element, the vibration detecting element and the first equalizer, based on the output signal of the position detecting element and the vibration-component signal.

Abstract: Where a lighting device uses solid state emitters and an optic processes light from the emitters, it may improve efficiency in light extraction from the emitters to have an index of refraction matching material in between emitter output and a surface of solid of the optic that receives emitted light. However, such improved out-coupling or extraction efficiency may cause an overall color shift in the output of the overall lighting device, for example, if improved emitter output reduces internal reflection and associated internal phosphor excitation. To reduce the color shift in the output of the lighting device, the device may have index matching material used in association with one or some of the solid state light emitters but not all of the emitters, so that the combined light output of the device exhibits a desired spectral characteristics, e.g. remains a desirable color of white light.

Abstract: Each of n signal transition detection sections detects a transition of the signal level of at least one of a first input signal or a second input signal corresponding to the signal transition detection section. A time-division control section outputs a control pulse according to a system clock when a signal transition is detected by at least one of the n signal transition detection sections. Each of n output switching sections outputs either the first or the second input signal corresponding to the output switching section as a multiplexed signal according to the control pulse.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to G protein coupled receptors and in particular to agonists and antagonists of G protein receptors and methods of using the same.

Abstract: A navigation device that can surely provide information on sightseeing facilities, etc. to a user is provided. A navigation device 1 for displaying a map screen representing the present position of a mobile on a map on which landmarks 6 are displayed is provided with a sightseeing area data base 31 for storing the position of a prescribed sightseeing area and sightseeing facilities within a prescribed sightseeing area, and a controller 10 for detecting whether a mobile enters the prescribed sightseeing area. Furthermore, the navigation device 1 includes an automatic facility display mode in which when it is detected by the controller 110 that the mobile enters the prescribed sightseeing area, the sightseeing facilities within the prescribed sightseeing areas are read out from the sightseeing area data base 31 and automatically displayed on the map, and also display of the landmarks 6 is reduced from the map.

Abstract: A new approach is proposed that contemplates audio conference systems and methods to expand the capacity a conference call by utilizing both a mixing engine that enables a first group participants to be able to both listen to and speak at the conference call, and a broadcast engine that broadcasts the conference call to a second group of participants who are only interested in listening to, but not speaking at the conference call. During the conference call, participants at the mixing engine and the broadcast engine can be dynamically adjusted.

Abstract: A chip coated LED package and a manufacturing method thereof. The chip coated LED package includes a light emitting chip composed of a chip die-attached on a submount and a resin layer uniformly covering an outer surface of the chip die. The chip coated LED package also includes an electrode part electrically connected by metal wires with at least one bump ball exposed through an upper surface of the resin layer. The chip coated LED package further includes a package body having the electrode part and the light emitting chip mounted thereon. The invention improves light efficiency by preventing difference in color temperature according to irradiation angles, increases a yield, miniaturizes the package, and accommodates mass production.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and controlling a target trajectory within a chamber apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light from plasma generated by irradiating a droplet target supplied from a target injection nozzle with a driver laser beam from an external driver laser. The apparatus includes: a nozzle adjustment mechanism for adjusting at least one of a position and an angle of the target injection nozzle; a target trajectory measuring unit for measuring a target trajectory to obtain trajectory information on the target trajectory; a target trajectory angle detecting unit for obtaining a value related to an angle deviation between the target trajectory represented by the trajectory information and a predetermined target trajectory; and a nozzle adjustment controller for controlling the nozzle adjustment mechanism based on the value related to the angle deviation such that the droplet target passes through a predetermined laser beam irradiation position.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a lens barrel in which operability for a user is increased and a reduction in parts is achieved while provided with a manual operating member.

Abstract: The present application generally relates to address data maintenance services using a mail processing system. The present application discloses techniques and equipment to update address information and usage of mail processing equipment to print delivery point barcodes that represent the current and accurate address information available for the addressee. The present application also provides a new approach for storing and searching address and name run time directories as part of a mail processing system using address reader technology.

Abstract: A battery casing 10 includes a plurality of cylindrical accommodation parts 12a to 12d accommodating a plurality of electrode assemblies 20, and connecting parts 13a to 13c connecting the accommodation parts 12a to 13d adjacent to each other. The inner circumferences of the accommodation parts 12a to 12d have substantially the same shape as the outer circumferences of the electrode assemblies. The connecting parts 13a to 13c are formed along the side surfaces of the accommodation parts 12a to 12d. Each electrode assembly 20 is formed by winding a positive electrode plate 21 and a negative electrode plate 22 with a separator 23 interposed therebetween to be in a cylindrical shape. The plurality of electrode assemblies 20 are accommodated in the accommodation parts 12a to 12d with substantially no gap left.

Abstract: This invention provides a data processing device capable of operating a plurality of processing modules in parallel. Processes following a processing flow are assigned to the plural processing modules, respectively, and at least two of the processing modules are capable of running a same process. A network includes an arbitration circuit that, upon receiving a packet from a processing module, according to a process number attached to the packet, selects a processing module out of the processing modules capable of running the process, and outputs the packet to the selected processing module. This thus allows for autonomous transfer of a packet between each processing module and makes it possible to operate the processing modules in parallel.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a battery pack capable of securing safety by preventing A battery contained in the battery pack from entering a burning state even if the battery releases high-temperature gas in an abnormal state. An exhaust duct 1C for permitting the flow of gas released from the battery is provided and the gas is exhausted to the outside after reducing the temperature thereof in the exhaust duct 1C. A flow passage area of the exhaust duct 1C is in the range of not less than 0.5 mm2 and not more than 15 mm2 per 1 Ah of the battery capacity. The exhaust duct 1C is provided with a gas cooling portion 1L and a spark trapping portion 1M.

Abstract: A soft magnetic material is a soft magnetic material including a composite magnetic particle (30) having a metal magnetic particle (10) mainly composed of Fe and an insulating coating (20) covering metal magnetic particle (10), and insulating coating (20) contains an iron phosphate compound and an aluminum phosphate compound. The atomic ratio of Fe contained in a contact surface of insulating coating (20) in contact with metal magnetic particle (10) is larger than the atomic ratio of Fe contained in the surface of insulating coating (20). The atomic ratio of Al contained in the contact surface of insulating coating (20) in contact with metal magnetic particle (10) is smaller than the atomic ratio of Al contained in the surface of insulating coating (20). Thus, iron loss can be reduced.

Abstract: A pump having a disposable fluid contacting portion which defines a fluid inlet and outlet and a fluid path there between is presented. The pump includes a drive portion configured to engage the disposable portion to cause fluid to be moved from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The disposable portion is configured to be selectively coupled to the drive portion. The disposable portion includes a driven membrane which forms a portion of the fluid path, and the drive portion includes a drive membrane. The two membranes are vacuum coupled to each other, whereby movement of the drive membrane causes the driven membrane to move, causing fluid to be pumped through the disposable portion. The pump has particular utility in the medical field for moving fluid from a source to a patient. The pump may include features such as an air-trap, bubble detection, fluid flow controls, and pressure detection.