Abstract: A resistor includes a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide. A method for producing such a resistor includes the steps of forming an electrode on one of an alumina substrate, a glass substrate and a glass tube; and flame-spraying a mixture of at least one of a metal conductive oxide and a transition metal material with an insulating oxide, thereby depositing the mixture on the one of the alumina substrate, the glass substrate and the glass tube.

Abstract: A battery pack controlling apparatus for controlling input to or output from a battery pack is provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of blocks in series connection. Each of the plurality of blocks includes a plurality of batteries in series connection. The battery pack controlling apparatus includes: a battery power input/output section for controlling input and output of battery power to and from the battery pack; a block voltage detection section for detecting a block voltage of each of the plurality of blocks; a battery current detection section for detecting a battery current of the battery pack; an unusual heating detection section for detecting unusual heating of at least one of the plurality of batteries based on the block voltage and the battery current; and a vehicle controlling section for controlling the battery power input/output section based on results of unusual heating detection by the unusual heating detection section.

Abstract: An encoder of the present invention includes: G storage sections for storing G groups of data; a selection section for selecting one of H Huffman codebooks having codebook numbers for each of the groups of data; G encoding sections Huffman-encoding the G groups of data by using the selected Huffman codebook; and an encoding section for encoding the codebook number of each Huffman codebook selected. The selection section includes a calculation section for calculating a code length and a control section for selecting one of the Huffman codebooks. When the Huffman codebook selected is an unsigned codebook, a number of bits required for sign information has previously been added to the calculated code length.

Abstract: A pair of edge polishing members (13a, 13b) each having a recess arcked working surface (22) are located on both sides of a diameter direction of a circular plate-shaped work (1) which is held by a chuck means (12) and is rotatable therewith, with the axes of the respective polishing members being inclined with respect to the axis (L) of the work (1), in a manner such that the working surface (22) of one edge polishing member (13a) gets in contact with the edge portion (2a) on the front side of the work (1), while the working surface (22) of the other edge polishing member (13b) gets in contact with the edge portion (2b) on the back side of the work (1), thereby polishing the two edge portions (2a, 2b).

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp lighting apparatus includes a fluorescent light emitting tube; and an electronic lighting circuit for applying an electric current to the fluorescent light emitting tube. The electronic lighting circuit includes a pair of electrode filaments provided in the fluorescent light emitting tube, a pair of capacitors each connected in series to a respective one of the pair of electrode filaments and connected parallel to the fluorescent light emitting tube, and an inductor connected in series to one of the pair of electrode filaments.

Abstract: A voltage detection apparatus for detecting a voltage of at least one battery includes: capacitor means to which a voltage is applied from the at least one battery and in which an electric charge accumulates; adjustment means for adjusting potentials at both ends of the capacitor means such that a potential difference between a potential at one end of the capacitor means and a reference potential is less than a potential difference between a potential at one end of the at least one battery and the reference potential, and that a potential difference between a potential at another end of the capacitor means and the reference potential is less than a potential difference between a potential at another end of the at least one battery and the reference potential; and voltage detection means for detecting a voltage of the at least one battery based on a potential difference between the one end of the capacitor means and the other end of the capacitor means after the potentials of both ends of the capacitor means h

Abstract: A photo-detecting device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a multilayer structure formed on the semiconductor substrate; an island-like photo-detecting region formed in at least a portion of the multilayer structure, the island-like photo-detecting region having a central portion; and a light-shielding mask formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to shield from light a portion of the island-like photo-detecting region at least excluding the central portion. The light-shielding mask comprises an upper metal film and a lower metal film, and the upper metal film and the lower metal film are at least partially isolated by an insulative film, the upper metal film and the lower metal film having different patterns.

Abstract: A method for charging a battery pack including a plurality of battery units includes: a first step of charging the battery units with a first electric current at a first rate until an internal pressure of at least one of the plurality of battery units begins to increase; and a second step of charging/discharging the battery units with a second electric current which is lower than the first electric current at a second rate which is lower than the first rate after the internal pressure of the at least one of the plurality of battery units has begun to increase.

Abstract: A lens barrel according to the present invention includes a first lens group; a second lens group; a third lens group; a first actuator for driving the first lens group; a second actuator for driving the second lens group; and third and fourth actuators for driving the third lens group. At least one of the first through fourth actuators is provided at a position such that magnetic flux leakage from at least one of the first through fourth actuators is canceled.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device 100 includes: a differential sense amplifier 9 having an input node 9a and an input node 9b, an information read section 110a, a reference section 110b, and a control section 140. The information read section 110a includes: a main bit line MBL coupled to the input node 9a; a select gate 4a; a sub-bit line SBL which is coupled to the main bit line MBL via the select gate 4a; a memory cell 1 which is coupled to the sub-bit line SBL and which is selectively activated in accordance with a voltage on a word line WL: a precharge section 120a for precharging the input node 9a and the main bit line MBL to a supply voltage Vdd; and a reset section 130b for resetting the sub-bit line SBL to a ground voltage Vss.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit for a charge generation type detection device of the present invention includes a charge-voltage conversion circuit for converting a charge generated in the charge generation type detection device to a voltage. The charge-voltage conversion circuit includes: a first capacitor for storing the charge generated in the charge generation type detection device; an operational amplifier connected to the first capacitor to form a feed-back loop; and a first switch connected in parallel with the first capacitor for discharging the charge stored in the first capacitor. The first switch includes a first transistor for generating a first clock feed-through and a second transistor for generating a second clock feed-through, the first switch being configured so that at least a portion of the first clock feed-through is canceled by the second clock feed-through.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes: a converging section for converging a light beam and irradiating a rotating information medium with the converged light beam; a moving section for moving the converging section, thereby moving a converging point of the converged light beam in a direction perpendicular to an information surface of the information medium; a converging state detection section for generating a focus servo signal which represents a converging state of the light beam on the information medium based on reflected light or transmitted light of the light beam from the information medium; a focus servo control section for controlling the moving section based on the focus servo signal, so that the light beam reaches a predetermined converging state on the information medium; and a focus pull-in section for turning ON the control by the focus servo control section, wherein the focus pull-in section turns ON the control by the focus servo control section in a case where the focus pull-in section determin

Abstract: An SRAM device includes: a plurality of normal memory blocks each including N normal memory cells for storing data, wherein N is a natural number; a spare memory block including one or more spare memory cells for storing data; a defective block setting section for storing first defective block information indicating a normal memory block including a defective normal memory cell among the plurality of normal memory blocks; N internal data lines which are respectively coupled to the N normal memory cells included in each of the plurality of normal memory blocks, where the N internal data lines are used for reading data stored in the N normal memory cells included in one of the plurality of normal memory blocks which is designated by access information, wherein the access information is externally input to the SRAM device; one or more spare data lines coupled to the spare memory block for reading data from the one or more spare memory cells included in the spare memory block; N external data lines via which the

Abstract: A charging method of a rechargeable battery includes steps of: charging the rechargeable battery with a constant current; charging the rechargeable battery with a constant voltage or with a current having a pulse waveform; and when a charging current is decreased so as to be equal to or lower than a predetermined current value, or when an average charging current for a single pulse of the current having a pulse waveform is decreased so as to be equal to or lower than a predetermined current value, determining that the rechargeable battery has been fully charged and stopping the charging of the rechargeable battery, wherein a temperature of the rechargeable battery is measured, and the predetermined current value at which the charging of the rechargeable battery is stopped is adjusted according to the measured temperature.

Abstract: The data transmission device 1a of the present invention includes a driver 10 for sending data, a receiver 20 for receiving the data sent from the driver 10, a transmission line path 30 for connecting between the driver 10 and the receiver 20, and a variable impedance element 40 having a controllably variable impedance. The variable impedance element 40 is connected to the transmission line path 30. The data transmission line device 1a can reduce power consumption and occurrence of skew.

Abstract: A plasma etching method and apparatus are provided in which a distance between an ejection opening (20a) in a plasma generator (2) for ejecting an active species gas and a surface of an object to be etched can be changed to thereby shorten the time required for a surface flattening operation and reduce the cost of equipment as well. To this end, the ejection opening (20a) of a predetermined diameter is disposed in confrontation with a desired convex of the object to be etched in the form of a wafer (110). The active species gas in the form of an F gas (G) is ejected from the ejection opening (20a) to the convex to thereby flatten it through etching. A distance between the ejection opening and the convex is changed by means of a Z drive mechanism (4) to provide an etching area corresponding to an area of the convex, thus performing effective flattening of the wafer (110).

Abstract: A decoding device for decoding a data stream includes a decoding table including a first region and a second region; a first decoder; and a second decoder. The first region defines a relationship between first data having a predetermined number of bits and a result of decoding a portion of the first data having bits smaller than or equal to the predetermined number. The second region defines a relationship between concatenated data obtained by concatenating the first data with second data having additional bits and a result of decoding the concatenated data. The first decoder reads the first data from the data stream; decodes the portion of the first data based on the first region; determines whether the decoding of the portion of the first data is completed or not; and when the decoding of the portion of the first data is completed, outputs a result of the decoding of the portion of the first data.

Abstract: An objective lens driving apparatus includes an objective lens opposed to an optical disk, the objective lens having an optical axis in a vertical direction which is perpendicular to the optical disk, a holder for holding the objective lens; a supporting member for supporting the holder to be movable in at least the vertical direction and a radial direction of the optical disk; a focusing coil provided on the holder and wound around the vertical direction; and a magnetic field generation section for generating a magnetic flux crossing the focusing coil in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, the magnetic flux being generated to be substantially linear.

Abstract: A method for detecting an abnormal cell in a battery system, wherein: the battery system includes a plurality of blocks serially connected together; each of the plurality of blocks includes a plurality of cells serially connected together and the method includes: a first step of detecting a block voltage for each of the plurality of blocks and detecting a current of the battery system; a second step of calculating a charge/discharge electric power for each of the plurality of blocks based on the block voltage and the current; a third step of determining whether or not a value of the current is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value; a fourth step of determining whether or not a difference of the charge/discharge electric power between at least any two of the plurality of blocks is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value; and a fifth step of detecting a block including an abnormal cell based on determination results from the third step and the fourth step.

Abstract: A method for charging a secondary battery by measuring the static/open circuit voltage and comparing it to a predetermined value includes: a first step of precharging the secondary battery; thereafter pausing a predetermined interval; a step of measuring a secondary battery voltage Vba1 after performing the pausing; and a step of charging the secondary battery based on the measurement of the secondary battery voltage Vba1.