Abstract: A thin tape printing apparatus is provided which requires less operation space when a tape cassette is loaded and unloaded and is suitable for integration into a variety of apparatuses. The tape printing apparatus includes a cassette insertion slot provided on the front side of a main unit, a cassette loading section which is connected to the cassette insertion slot so that a tape cassette having at least a platen roller and a platen drive gear for rotating the platen roller can be loaded and unloaded from the side of the main unit, a print head for performing printing on a tape-shaped recording medium, and a drive motor for driving the platen roller via the platen drive gear.

Abstract: A disk apparatus wherein a cleaning member and a shutter for cleaning and covering an optical head are actuated by the motor used to drive a head positioning member (such as a screw shaft). During a reading operation, a screw shaft is rotated by a motor in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, and a carriage meshed with the screw shaft is driven to move an optical head over a disk. When the reading operation is stopped, the optical head is moved by the screw shaft to a retracted position. After the optical head is fully retracted, the screw shaft is further rotated by the motor and the screw shaft is then moved along its axis relative to the optical head. As the screw shaft moves, it pushes against a drive member, which in turn causes a support member to rotate so that the optical head is cleaned by a cleaning member provided on the support member, and is covered by a shutter, which is also formed on the support member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing thin films in which a first film is formed on a substrate using chemical-vapor deposition (CVD), and a second film is formed on the substrate using sputtering, wherein the processes are sequentially performed in the same deposition chamber without exposing the substrate to an oxidative atmosphere. The deposition chamber includes a first electrode, and a second electrode located under the first electrode. During the CVD process, a dummy target is mounted on the first electrode and the substrate is mounted on the second electrode, a reactive gas is introduced into the chamber, and high frequency electrical power is applied to both the first and second electrodes, thereby causing the constituents of the reactive gas to deposit on the substrate to form the first film. Subsequently, any remaining reactive gas is removed from the chamber and an automated mechanism removes the dummy target from the first electrode and stores the dummy target in a storage chamber.

Abstract: In a detachable electronic device with a device body which can be detached from a stationary portion and a control unit which can be detached from the device body, the device body is prevented from being released from the stationary portion when the control unit is detached from the device body.

Abstract: A thermal printer capable of performing multiple printing on a plurality of superposed recording paper sheets adapted for multiple printing. The thermal printer has a first printing mode for printing on heat-sensitive paper, a second printing mode for printing on plain paper by melting and transferring ink of an ink ribbon, and a third mode for multiple printing on multiple-printing sheets. Each of these printing modes is selected by a printing mode select switch. A control unit is provided which controls the traveling speed of a carriage and a unit time period for energizing a thermal head based on the selected printing mode.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to increase the energy efficiency of a plasma apparatus and provide a high-frequency magnetron plasma apparatus which can precisely control plasma. The plasma apparatus has a susceptor electrode, a plasma exciting electrode, magnets mounted on the plasma exciting electrode, and a magnetic shield provided around the plasma exciting electrode, all of which are arranged in a vacuum chamber. The magnetic shield has a high impedance for a high frequency. The magnetic shield is preferably earthed with a direct current, more preferably earthed through an inductance.

Abstract: The invention provides a detection object searching device which makes it possible to immediately know the direction of a mobile detection object such as a car by information presented on a display of a portable unit. The detection object searching device includes a portable operation unit and a body unit. The operation unit includes a transmission section for transmitting a search signal upon operation of a transmission button, a receiving section for receiving a direction indication information signal, an absolute direction detecting section for generating an absolute direction signal, a control section for generating direction indication information indicating the direction of the car based on the direction information signal and absolute direction signal, and a display section for displaying the direction indication information.

Abstract: Alloy powder which is low in price and is unlikely to be oxidized on the surface, and a dispersion-type conductor using the alloy powder in which electromigration is not likely to occur. Melt of copper and silver is cooled at a high cooling speed of 10.sup.5 .degree.C./s or higher. Alloy powder having a composition expressed by a chemical formula Cu.sub.x Ag.sub.1-x (where 0.80.ltoreq..times..ltoreq.0.99) is obtained. Also, a dispersion-type conductor is produced by dispersing 100 parts by weight of the alloy powder in between 5-100 parts by weight of a binder. Thus, the low-priced alloy powder and the dispersion-type conductor of high quality and high reliability can be obtained.

Abstract: A silicone composition containing: (A) 100 parts by weight of organopolysiloxane; 0.1 to 50 parts by weight of thickening agent (C) 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of fluorine-containing surfactant; and (D) 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of volatile water-soluble solvent.

Abstract: A grounded-base transistor amplifier including a pair of transistors which have the bases thereof grounded at a high frequency and the collectors thereof coupled to a signal output terminal, a high frequency transformer which includes a primary winding connected to a signal input terminal and a secondary winding equipped with a midpoint tap, both ends of the secondary winding being connected to the emitters of the transistors, and a constant-current circuit which is connected to the midpoint tap of the secondary winding and which produces a bias current flow through the transistors. Noise voltages generated by the constant-current circuit are supplied to the emitters of the transistors in the same phase via the secondary winding; therefore, no noise voltage appears at the signal output terminal.

Abstract: A transmitter-receiver of the TDMA/TDD type which includes a phase control loop controlled in such a manner that the loop is turned on during the time slot just preceding each of a transmission time slot and a reception time slot, and the loop is turned off during all other time periods including the transmission time slot and the reception time slot. The voltage controlled oscillator includes a variable capacitance diode which produces an output frequency in response to a frequency control voltage received from a charge pump when the loop is closed, and in response to a charging voltage supplied from a loop filter when the loop is open. When the loop is closed, a phase comparator compares a reference frequency signal with an output frequency signal of the voltage-controlled oscillator and generates error signals for controlling the charge pump.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor for connecting a signal electrode line to a pixel electrode of a liquid crystal display, the thin-film transistor including: a substrate; a gate electrode formed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer; an ohmic contact layer formed on the semiconductor layer; a source electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer over a first end of the semiconductor layer; a drain electrode formed on the ohmic contact layer over a second end of the semiconductor layer such that a channel region is formed; and a protective film formed on the gate insulating layer, the source electrode, the channel region of the semiconductor layer, and the drain electrode. A width of the gate electrode is wider than a width of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted motor drive apparatus which stops the rotation of a motor immediately after an object obstructs a movable part driven by the motor. The drive apparatus includes a motor drive device for selectively driving and stopping a motor, an electric current measuring device for measuring a value of electric current flowing through the motor, a change-in-current-value detecting device for detecting an incremental change in the motor current, and a motor control device for supplying a first control signal or a second control signal to the motor drive device. The motor drive device continuously drives the motor according to the polarity of the detected increment of the current value in response to the first control signal, and immediately stops driving the motor in response to the second control signal.

Abstract: An illumination device consists of a light emitting element, a casing for supporting the light emitting element, and a colored cap which covers the light emitting element. The cap has a flat top surface so that the device can be held by suction stably at the top surface by means of a suction nozzle that is used commonly for other electronic parts and can be carried and mounted on a circuit board by the automatic part mounting equipment. The cap also has the formation of a curving surface section between the flat top surface and cylindrical section so that an increased amount of light is transmitted in the up-oblique direction through the curving surface section, thereby compensating the degraded light distribution caused by the formation of the flat top surface.

Abstract: A transmission and reception system including a transmitter for transmitting a signal including identification (security) information and function information, and a receiver for receiving and decoding the signal and for executing the operation defined by the function information upon verification of the identification information. The transmitter divides one or more of the identification information and the function information into two or more bit groups, and transmits these bit groups such that identification information bit groups are separated by function information and function information bit groups are separated by identification information.

Abstract: A thermal head including a temperature keeping layer disposed on a substrate, a plurality of heat generating elements formed on the temperature keeping layer, a plurality of individual electrodes connected to the corresponding heat generating elements, a common electrode connected to the heat generating elements, respectively. Each heat generating element includes a heat generating portion formed between one of the individual electrodes and the common electrode. Each of the individual electrodes and the common electrode have a dual layered structure including a lower electrode and an upper electrode, the lower electrode being formed between the temperature keeping layer and one of the heat generating elements, and the upper electrode being formed above the heat generating element.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistive effect layer (MR layer), on which permanent magnet layers are superimposed, the permanent magnet layers having slanted edges forming an angle .phi. with respect to the direction of an electric current I. The electrical resistance of the permanent magnet layers is higher than that of the MR layer. Due to the N and S polarities of the opposing slanted edges, sections of the MR layer located between the opposing slanted edges are magnetized with the angle .phi. such that a single magnetic domain is formed. The direction of magnetization M is at an angle .phi. of approximately 45.degree. with respect to the electric current I, so that it is possible to detect a change in the electrical resistance of the MR layer whenever there is a change in the external magnetic field H. Since the sections of the MR layer located between the opposing slanted edges are effected by the single magnetic domain in a direction having the angle .phi.

Abstract: There is disclosed a magnetic head including a magnetic film deposited on a substrate, being characterized in that: the the magnetic film is made of a soft magnetic alloy having an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the range from 125.times.10.sup.-7 to 150.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. over the temperature range from room temperature to 600.degree. C., a saturation magnetostriction constant in the range from 0 to +3.times.10.sup.-6, and a mean crystal grain size less than 30 nm; and the portion of the substrate adjacent to the magnetic core has an average coefficient of linear thermal expansion in the range from 115.times.10.sup.-7 to 145.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. over the temperature range from room temperature to 600.degree. C., thereby providing a high permeability, low coercive force, and excellent resistance to corrosion.

Abstract: A computer including a body case housing a display, an outer member formed of an impact-resistant material integrally formed on the outside surface of the body case, and an outwardly-projecting cushioning portion formed at each corner of the outside member. Each of the cushioning portions has a first protective portion extending outwardly from the body case, and a second protective portion projecting curvilinearly with respect to the first protective portion and extending onto a surface or a back side of the body case. The cushioning portions are formed of an elastic material. Further, vent holes are formed in the body case which are sealed with a porous film which is permeable to gas but not permeable to water. The vent holes provide an escape path for gas produced by a battery, such as a nickel-hydrogen battery, in the event that the battery explodes within the body case.