Abstract: A positioning system is provided for use in an information recording/reproducing apparatus for positioning a cartridge containing an information recording medium on a chassis mounting information recording and reproducing structure. Such positioning system comprises positioning holes formed on the cartridge containing an information recording medium; and positioning pins formed on the chassis mounting information recording and reading structure. In particular, when a cartridge containing an information recording medium is inserted into the recording/reproducing apparatus, one of the positioning pins is caused to insert into a corresponding positioning hole earlier than the insertion of other pin(s) into other corresponding positioning hole(s).

Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit comprising a pair of input MOS transistors, wherein inputs are supplied to the gates thereof, load circuits are connected to the drains thereof, and a current source is connected to the sources thereof, the current value of the current source is altered in line with variations in the characteristics of the input MOS transistors, thereby suppressing variations in the output level generated at the drain terminals of the input MOS transistors. In other words, unlike a conventional differential amplifier circuit, the current value of the current source is not kept to a uniform value, but rather is altered in accordance with the transistor characteristics generated by the manufacturing process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dummy cell that provides a dummy programming level and a dummy erasing level which are set such as to give “fail” results during verify operations under ordinary conditions and “pass” results when noises affect verify operations, thereby ascertaining correct programming or erase operation for flash memories.

Abstract: A biological filtration apparatus comprises: a raw water introducing section for introducing raw water as water to be processed; a biological filtration section, disposed on the lower side of the raw water introducing section, for biologically purifying/refining/filtrating the raw water so as to yield processed water; a support section, disposed on the lower side of the biological filtration section, for supporting the biological filtration section, the support section having a liquid and gas permeability; and a water collecting section, disposed on the lower side of the support section, for collecting the processed water; the biological filtration section including a packed bed comprising a hollow carrier particle, made of a resin, having a true specific gravity of at least 1.01 g/ml but less than 1.2 g/ml.

Abstract: A parts aligning apparatus that has a plurality of parts carried on a track located upstream of the apparatus. A first track of the apparatus carries the parts thereon. When a sensing device senses a particular face of each part is contacting the first track, an air jet device emits a burst of compressed air, causing the part on the first track to turn over onto a second track so that the particular face faces upward, or away from the track surface. During this process, the part turns around a common apex between the first and second tracks, which serves as a support point.

Abstract: In a transmitting system for a small-sized vehicle in which a crankshaft of an engine and an input shaft of a multi-stage transmission are connected to each other through a fluid transmitting device, a shifting clutch is interposed between the crankshaft of the engine and the multi-stage transmission in a series relation to the fluid transmitting device. A lock-up clutch is interposed between a pump impeller and a turbine impeller of the fluid transmitting device. Thus, when the multi-stage transmission is to be shifted, the shifting operation can be conducted lightly, in spite of a creep phenomenon of the fluid transmitting device, by bringing the shifting clutch into an OFF state. Moreover, during cruising of the vehicle, the slipping of the fluid transmitting device can be inhibited by the OFF state of the lock-up clutch to enhance the transmitting efficiency.

Abstract: In a thin film forming method and an apparatus A for implementing the method, a deposition chamber 1 provided with a substrate holder 12 and a radical emitting device 2 continuing to the chamber 1 for emitting neutral radicals uniformly to a whole deposition target region of a deposition target substrate S held by the holder 12 are used. Deposition gas plasma PL1 is formed at the vicinity of the substrate S on the holder 12 by supplying a predetermined deposition gas into the chamber 1. Neutral radicals RA are produced by exciting and dissociating a predetermined radical material gas in the radical emitting device 2, and the radicals are uniformly emitted to the deposition target region of the substrate S for forming a predetermined thin film on the substrate S.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal supply voltage generating circuit reduces power consumption in an active mode. The internal supply voltage generating circuit includes a first voltage-drop regulator, which supplies a relatively large driving power to an internal circuit, and a second voltage-drop regulator, which supplies a relatively small driving power to the internal circuit. First, the second voltage-drop regulator is activated and the first voltage-drop regulator is inactivated in one of a stand-by mode and a power-down mode. Then, at least the first voltage-drop regulator is activated in an active mode, and the first voltage-drop regulator is inactivated in an active pause of the active mode. The first voltage-drop regulator is activated when the active pause is cancelled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor nonvolatile memory provided with a plurality of memory cells having floating gates, which enables an optimum erase operation, even when the erase rate fluctuates due to production irregularities, by monitoring the state of a memory cell during erase process and controlling the erase voltage applied to a control gate in accordance with the state of erase progress. As a specific example of the state of a memory cell, which is monitored during erase process, leakage current of a memory cell during erase process is monitored.

Abstract: A man-machine system equipped with a voice recognition apparatus for input words is provided. The system controls each of functions, handling each control word composed of a control command word and an object word. If only the control command word is inputted into the system as one of the input words, the system complements the corresponding object word by using an object word of the other input words recognized previously. The system further designates similar candidates and stores them in a memory. If correction is requested, the current candidate is corrected with another one of the candidates stored in the memory. The system further stores the input words in the memory, so that re-recognition according to the input words previously inputted and stored in the memory is also executed when one of the candidates is corrected.

Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device, a digitally operating control circuit has a high-frequency circuit, which handles signals of relatively high frequencies, and a low-frequency circuit, which handles signals of relatively low frequencies. The high-frequency and low-frequency circuits are arranged as separate blocks. A plurality of conductor layers are provided, and, the wiring of the low-frequency circuit is achieved without using particular one or ones of those conductor layers.

Abstract: A first compound is converted to a second compound enzymatically in a solvent mixture containing water and a fluorinated, non-chlorinated alkane, alkene, or alkyne having up to 4 carbon atoms. Lactams, for example 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA), may be prepared by enzymatic conversion of a first compound, for example penicillin-G, in a solvent mixture comprising water and a non-aqueous organic solvent, for example 1,1,1, 2-tetrafluoroethane. The 6-APA can be caused to precipitate, isolated by filtration and optionally derivatized to produce a desired compound. A by-product of the enzymatic conversion, for example phenylacetic acid, can be isolated by solvent extraction, suitably using a solvent which also comprises 1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at providing a base station for mobile communication systems which is capable of communicating with more mobile station than in the prior art while keeping high communication quality and restraining a rise in production cost. The base station of the present invention is used in mobile communication systems in which diversity is conducted. Such a base station includes an RF unit for generating a plurality of high-frequency transmission signals, an antenna selecting unit for switching connection of the transmission signal output of the RF unit from one antenna to another, a cross switch 460 for switching the data transmission route between straight connection and cross connection by inputting transmission data from TDMA processing units 471 and 472 interchangeably to transmitting units 433 and 434 of the RF unit, and a control unit 446 for controlling the antenna selecting unit so that the transmission signals will be connected to different antennas, respectively.

Abstract: The invention concerns pharmaceutical forms of administration that are in the form of pellets which contain a retarding agent in which the release rate of the active substance is not delayed or is substantially identical compared to corresponding pellets that contain no retarding agent. The release rate of these rapidly disintegrating pellets is at least about 90% within a time period of 30 minutes. In addition the present invention also concerns processes for the production these pellets.

Abstract: To improve the sliding rotations of pins within pin (roller) retaining holes 113a. A method of fabricating a pin (roller) retaining ring in an internal meshing gear mechanism, the mechanism having an internal gear 20 and external gears 5a, 5b put into internal mesh with the internal gear, the internal gear consisting of a pin (roller) retaining ring 110 having half-round pin (roller) retaining holes in its inner periphery and pins (rollers) 11 rotatably fitted to the respective pin retaining holes, is provided. Here, before the bore diameter &phgr;DA of a pin retaining ring base material 151 is machined to a finished diameter, the pin retaining holes 113a are cut as full round holes into the ring base material. The inner surfaces of the pin retaining holes 113a are finished by roller burnishing, and then the bore diameter of the pin retaining ring is expanded to the finished diameter to obtain the pin retaining ring having the half-round pin retaining holes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for effecting liquid-phase hydrogenation of MAN to GBL in high conversion and high selectivity. The present invention provides an improved process of catalytic hydrogenation for converting MAN or SA to GBL in the liquid phase in the presence of a noble metal (palladium-molybdenum-nickel) catalyst supported on silica having a large surface area. The catalytic hydrogenation is conducted at a temperature of 150 to 250° C. and under a pressure of 50 to 150 kg/cm2.

Abstract: A plurality of groups of integrated elements (30, 40) comprising a plurality of photovoltaic elements (2) electrically connected in series are provided on a substrate (1) having an insulating surface. The plurality groups of integrated elements (30, 40) are arranged in parallel by interposing a separating part (50). A rear surface member (4) is electrically connected with the plurality of the groups of integrated elements (30, 40) in series and is adhered to a rear surface side of the plurality of groups of integrated elements (30, 40) by interposing an adhesive layer (5) containing resin. The adhesive layer (5) is provided so as to cover a rear surface of the groups of integrated elements (30, 40) except for an area corresponding to the separating part (50).

Abstract: A centrifugal extractor for extraction of an organic phase from a liquid mixture, such as liquid radioactive wastes, is disclosed. In the centrifugal extractor, both the separating weir and the divert disk are designed to be adjustable in their vertical positions. The extractor, thus, desirably separates the organic phase, including usable elements in addition to chemically toxic high radioactive elements, from the aqueous phase and desirably controls the reaction time of the two phases regardless of a variation of the mixing ratio and the rotational speed of the two phases. In the centrifugal extractor, a liquid suction and rotation unit sucks and rotates the liquid mixture and separates the organic phase from the aqueous phase while controlling the reaction time of the two phases. A height-adjustable separation weir unit is designed to locate the separating weir at a boundary layer between the two separated phases.

Abstract: Control system for an internal combustion engine, for setting a desired torque in response to operating conditions of the engine and controlling torque based on the set desired torque. A crank angle position sensor detects an engine rotational speed. An accelerator position sensor detects an accelerator position. A required torque is calculated based on results of detection by the crank angle position sensor and the accelerator position sensor. Further, the calculated required torque is smoothed. Then, the present value of the required torque calculated at the present time and the smoothed required torque are compared with each other. When it is determined that the engine is being accelerated, an acceleration assist amount is calculated based on a difference value between the present value of the required torque and the smoothed required torque. Then, the acceleration assist amount is added to the smoothed required torque, whereby the desired torque is set.

Abstract: A polishing machine provided with a plurality of bases operative independently of each other; a plurality of abrasive pads respectively fixed to the plurality of bases and each having an abrasive surface for polishing a workpiece; and a base driving mechanism for individually operating the plurality of bases. The operations of the respective bases are individually controlled by controlling the base driving mechanism by means of a control circuit. The control circuit controls the base driving mechanism so that the workpiece is generally uniformly polished by the abrasive surfaces of the respective abrasive pads.