Abstract: A CMOS output circuit including a pMOS transistor and an nMOS transistor connected in series between a power supply voltage and a ground voltage, is formed with a resistive component for reducing occurrence of latch-up. The resistive component is arranged at least one of the sources of the pMOS and nMOS transistors so as to be connected in series with a parasitic bipolar transistor formed between the power supply voltage and the ground voltage through its emitter. The resistive component limits the collector current of the parasitic bipolar transistor at a time that a triggering voltage is applied to an output terminal of the output circuit, so that the parasitic bipolar transistor does not turn on readily, thereby resulting in reduced possibility of occurrence of latch-up.

Abstract: A portable computer having a lid portion pivotally mounted to a body which includes an array of keys. A display section of the lid is aligned, for ease of viewing by an operator, with a subarray of the keys used to display ASCII characters on the display section. For a QWERTY arrangement of keys, a center line of the display section may be aligned, for example, with a line bisecting a row of keys which includes the A through L keys, midway between the F and J keys. The display section and subarray of keys are not aligned with center lines of the lid and body respectively, so that there is more space on one side of the lid adjacent to the display section available for mounting control hardware. The side with more space is used for mounting such hardware as rheostats for adjusting the brightness and contrast of an image on the display section, a back-light arrangement for the display section, an inverter for driving the back-light arrangement, and operation-related indicators.

Abstract: A contact type image sensor including a plurality of photodiodes for converting a light signal into an electric signal according to the intensity of the light and a plurality of blocking diodes, arranged in either a back-to-back or a front-to-front connection with the photodiodes, for functioning as switching elements to have the information stored on the photodiodes read out, and adapted to be driven by a matrix drive system. For a back-to-back connection of the blocking diodes and photodiodes, a control circuit maintains the potential difference between cathodes of the photodiodes at zero volts at all times. Similarly, for a front-to-front connection of the blocking diodes and photodiodes, a control/drive circuit maintains the potential difference between the anodes of the photodiodes at zero volts at all times.

Abstract: A drive system for a wire dot head is provided with sensors for detecting displacements of corresponding print wires. Each sensor outputs a movement initiation timing signal and an impact timing signal for the corresponding print wire. An electric current to be fed to an associated coil is normally controlled by these timing signals. It is detected whether these timing signals are obtained in a predetermined time period. If not, electric power is continuously fed to the coil or is forcedly cut off so that the timing signals are obtained within the predetermine time period.

Abstract: An ON-OFF control of a clutch-brake for a press machine, having fail-safe operation. The clutch-brake drive control is provided by turning double solenoid valves on and off. Two lines of drive control signal generators output drive control signals to semiconductor elements when a running command pulse signal is recognized as valid. A bus collating circuit forcibly cuts off AC power supplies of solenoid driving circuits when synchronization and coordination of the operation of each of the lines are checked and found not in coordination. Two lines of fault detecting circuitry forcibly cuts off the AC power supplies of the solenoid driving circuits by automatically detecting a fault of the semiconductor elements.

Abstract: An iron or wood golf club head 60 designed to strike a golf ball so that it flies straight in a desired direction. The golf club head 60 consists generally of a striking surface 61, including a leading edge 62, and a hosel member 65, which provides a socket for insertion of a shaft member 69. The hosel member 65, connected to the striking surface 61, extends from the club head 60 substantially perpendicular to the leading edge and bends at an obtuse angle relative to the hosel portion which is connected to the striking surface 61. A straight type shaft 69 is inserted into a socket of the hosel member 65.

Abstract: A safety valve for a sealed vessel, for releasing pressurized gas from the sealed vessel in an abnormally heated state defined by a critical temperature. The safety valve includes an end plate for the vessel, the end plate having opposite concave and convex surfaces. A bore perforates the plate at a low point of the concave surface. A central portion of the plate surrounding the bore is bent toward the bore so as to define a cavity which opens toward the concave surface. An alloy material, having a melting point which is lower than the critical temperature, is provided in the cavity and plugs the bore so that if the temperature of the pressurized gas exceeds the critical temperature, the alloy material melts thereby opening the valve and relieving the pressure within the vessel.

Abstract: A silicon oxide layer is formed on a silicon substrate, and an opening whose wall is sloped inward is formed in the silicon oxide layer. A seed crystalline silicon layer is formed from the opening. The seed crystalline layer is selectively oxidized while leaving the seed crystalline layer required for crystal growth. An oxide formed at this time closes the opening. Consequently, the seed crystalline layer is insulated from the silicon substrate. The seed crystalline layer is epitaxially grown, to obtain a silicon growth layer on a field oxide layer. The growth layer is insulated from the silicon substrate, and is uniform in surface direction. Accordingly, there is no parasitic capacitance due to a p-n junction between the silicon substrate and the growth layer, thereby to make it possible to perform a high-speed operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a field effect transistor in which a silicon carbide layer and a ferroelectric film are stacked in this order on the surface of a silicon substrate and the ferroelectric film is used as a gate insulation film. A channel between a source and a drain is formed in the silicon carbide layer. A metal or oxygen contained in a ferroelectric material is difficult to diffuse in silicon carbide. Therefore, the silicon carbide layer is not eroded in the case of heat treatment after forming the ferroelectric film. Therefore, good FET characteristics is obtained.

Abstract: A bicycle having post couplings, e.g., a coupling of a handle post to a binding cylinder of a handle clamp, and a coupling of a seat post to a binding cylinder of a frame. The binding cylinder has an extension formed on a side of it. Two slanting holes perforate the extension in slanting directions toward the inner cylindrical opening of the binding cylinder. Two skew blocks are inserted into the respective slanting holes so that the ends touch the post member. The bolt penetrates bolt bores formed in the skew blocks. A nut is fitted to an end of the bolt and tightened. As the nut is tightened, the skew blocks move in the slanting direction of the holes to secure the post member. Since the direction of separation of the skew blocks deviates from that of the axis of the bolt, the friction between the blocks and the slanting holes resists vibrational forces tending to loosen the coupling.

Abstract: A Neuro device is a representation of a nerve cell constituting human brains, eyes and the like, that is, a neuron by an electronic circuit. A circuit of the Neuro device according to the present invention comprises n (n : natural number) input terminals 4, n variable resistors 8 (the resistance values of the n variable resistors 8 are respectively set to R1, R2,..., Rn) respectively connected to the input terminals 4, and an arithmetic circuit 100 to which signals from the variable resistors 8 are together applied, and an output terminal 5 to which a signal from the arithmetic circuit 100 is outputted. The variable resistor 8 is so constructed that a chalcogenide semiconductor is interposed between a pair of electrodes. The chalcogenide semiconductor can be reversibly transferred to a high resistive amorphous state and a low resistive crystallized state by applying a predetermined write voltage.

Abstract: An atomizer mechanism includes a pulse-jet engine for atomizing chemicals, an air-fuel mixture supply unit, and an engine starter. The air-fuel mixture supply unit includes a precombustion chamber that communicates with the combustion chamber, a collecting valve, and a carburetor for supplying atomized fuel to the precombustion chamber through the valve. The engine starter includes a compressed air inflow passage for carrying compressed air into the precombustion chamber and toward the valve, without passing through the valve. The engine starter also includes a manual pump which pressurizes fuel and a fuel supply passage. The fuel supply passage is connected to the compressed air inflow passage upstream of the precombustion chamber. The fuel is thereby supplied to the compressed air inflow passage, where it is atomized and directed into the precombusion chamber for ignition to start the engine.

Abstract: A latch up phenomenon is prevented by forming an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, allowing a semiconductor layer to extend from both end portions of an opening provided in the insulating film on the semiconductor substrate onto the insulating film, forming a channel region within the opening, and utilizing semiconductor layers on the insulating film as a source and a drain. Further, in the semiconductor layer extending from the semiconductor substrate onto the insulating film, when the portion in contact with the semiconductor substrate is formed as a part of the inversion layer (channel), the width of the channel portion which utilizes the semiconductor substrate can be reduced, which enables a high-density integration to be realized.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a press which corrects the spacing between an upper die and a lower die when the press is at bottom dead center. The apparatus includes a detector which is operative during each cycle of reciprocal movement of the press slide to detect the spacing between the upper and lower dies, a comparator which compares the detected spacing during each cycle with a prior spacing, an axially expansible/contractible piezoelectric actuator mounted on the press so that its axial length affects the spacing between the upper and lower dies when the press is at bottom dead center, and a drive circuit which is responsive to a deviation signal from the comparator to drive the actuator with a high voltage so as to expand or contract its axial length according to the difference between the detected and prior spacing of the dies.

Abstract: A device having a ferroelectric film formed on the surface of a semiconductor substrate is manufactured. An oxide film having a window above a channel region is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The ferroelectric film is formed so as to cover the oxide film and the like. In addition, the surface of the ferroelectric film is flattened by a resist. The resist and the ferroelectric film are then etched back, to expose the oxide film. In this state, an unnecessary portion of the oxide film is selectively removed. If the oxide film is formed into a fine pattern, it is possible to form the ferroelectric film into a fine pattern.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring the distance to a target according to the time-of-flight of laser pulses. The apparatus includes a transmitter of laser impulses toward the target and a receiver of laser impulses reflected from the target. A driver of the transmitter generates a first time signal corresponding to the transmission. The receiver generates a second time signal corresponding to the reception. A delay generator delays at least one of the first and second signals to compensate for time errors, and provides a third signal corresponding to the first signal and a fourth signal corresponding to the second signal, such that a time difference between the third and fourth signals is exactly equal to the time-of-flight of the transmitted pulses.

Abstract: A press includes a reciprocation unit having a crank structure which is driven in horizontal reciprocation by an associated press drive. A motion direction shifting unit having a link structure is coupled to the reciprocation unit a ram so as to reciprocate the ram vertically between an upper position and a lower rest position in response to the horizontal reciprocation of the reciprocation unit, such that the ram remains in a state of substantial rest with respect to the shifting unit for a predetermined period of time upon reaching the lower position. A control unit controls a hydraulic fluid supply system to cause a pressure applying device to apply a controlled press forming force to the ram when a sensor detects that the ram is in the rest state.